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With This Ring #3
A Matter of Scandal
SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL
Miss Emma Grenville, who is no silly debutante, has had her fill of thick-headed noblemen who believe women exist solely to satisfy men. And her arrogant new landlord, the Duke of Wycliffe, is the worst of the lot! The too attractive cad wants to triple the rent on Emma's finishing school for young ladies to help get his uncle's estate out of debt. Well, Greydon Brakenridge clearly needs educating—about women. And Emma's just the one to enlighten him!
The sinfully handsome duke has never met a woman he couldn't outwit and seduce. And now that he's tricked Emma into a wager, he has the stubborn headmistress right where her wants her—and hopefully, soon in his bed. But the confirmed bachelor underestimates the intelligent and surprisingly sensual Miss Grenville. For she may be leading Greydon to a place neither dreamed they'd ever go—to the altar.
Miss Emma Grenville, who is no silly debutante, has had her fill of thick-headed noblemen who believe women exist solely to satisfy men. And her arrogant new landlord, the Duke of Wycliffe, is the worst of the lot! The too attractive cad wants to triple the rent on Emma's finishing school for young ladies to help get his uncle's estate out of debt. Well, Greydon Brakenridge clearly needs educating—about women. And Emma's just the one to enlighten him!
The sinfully handsome duke has never met a woman he couldn't outwit and seduce. And now that he's tricked Emma into a wager, he has the stubborn headmistress right where her wants her—and hopefully, soon in his bed. But the confirmed bachelor underestimates the intelligent and surprisingly sensual Miss Grenville. For she may be leading Greydon to a place neither dreamed they'd ever go—to the altar.
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2001
87 people are currently reading
1318 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Enoch
101 books2,629 followersSuzanne was born in Southern California sometime in the latter half of the 20th century. In the way that some people are born knowing they want to be astronauts or cellists, Suzanne always knew she wanted to be a writer. Early dreams of becoming a zoologist and writing true stories about her adventures in Africa were crushed, however, after she viewed a television special about the world’s most poisonous snakes; she did NOT want to write about how she’d been bitten and lost a limb to a cobra. Thankfully at the same time the movie “Star Wars” premiered, and she realized that she could make up adventures and write about them, and not be eaten by deadly predators while doing research.
She dabbled in romantic fantasy writing for a year or two after graduating with a degree in English from the University of California, Irvine, until her affection for traditional Regency romances led her to write one for fun. After several encouraging rejections from publishers, she snared the interest of the world’s best and most patient literary agent, who advised her to revise the manuscript. This ultimately led to the publication of her first book, The Black Duke’s Prize, from Avon Books in the Spring of 1995. A second Regency, Angel’s Devil, followed that Fall.
When Avon folded its traditional Regency line, Suzanne was encouraged to try her hand at historical romance. As she remained keenly interested in England’s Regency period, she decided to attempt another manuscript set in that time. Lady Rogue hit the shelves in March of 1997. She wrote a total of 29 books for Avon, including two anthologies and a five-part contemporary series which received a pair of starred reviews from Publishers Weekly. One of those books, Twice the Temptation, was named one of the five best romances of the year by PW in 2007.
In 2002 her well-known love of all things “Star Wars” led to an invitation to appear on the E! channel in the television special “Star Wars: The Force Is Back”, where she discussed the romance in the movie series and ended up with more air time than George Lucas.
In 2010 Suzanne left Avon Books for St. Martin’s Press, where she continues to pen historical romance novels. Her 31st book, Taming an Impossible Rogue, is set to arrive in March 2012.
Suzanne is known for her humorous characters, sexy bad boys, and whip-sharp, witty dialogue. She currently resides in Placentia, California with several hundred guppies and various other tropical fish, and handful of very loud, spinach-loving finches. And her collection of action figures and statues from “Star Wars”, “Lord of the Rings”, “X-Men”, and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Everybody needs some inspiration, after all.
www.facebook.com/SuzanneEnoch
She dabbled in romantic fantasy writing for a year or two after graduating with a degree in English from the University of California, Irvine, until her affection for traditional Regency romances led her to write one for fun. After several encouraging rejections from publishers, she snared the interest of the world’s best and most patient literary agent, who advised her to revise the manuscript. This ultimately led to the publication of her first book, The Black Duke’s Prize, from Avon Books in the Spring of 1995. A second Regency, Angel’s Devil, followed that Fall.
When Avon folded its traditional Regency line, Suzanne was encouraged to try her hand at historical romance. As she remained keenly interested in England’s Regency period, she decided to attempt another manuscript set in that time. Lady Rogue hit the shelves in March of 1997. She wrote a total of 29 books for Avon, including two anthologies and a five-part contemporary series which received a pair of starred reviews from Publishers Weekly. One of those books, Twice the Temptation, was named one of the five best romances of the year by PW in 2007.
In 2002 her well-known love of all things “Star Wars” led to an invitation to appear on the E! channel in the television special “Star Wars: The Force Is Back”, where she discussed the romance in the movie series and ended up with more air time than George Lucas.
In 2010 Suzanne left Avon Books for St. Martin’s Press, where she continues to pen historical romance novels. Her 31st book, Taming an Impossible Rogue, is set to arrive in March 2012.
Suzanne is known for her humorous characters, sexy bad boys, and whip-sharp, witty dialogue. She currently resides in Placentia, California with several hundred guppies and various other tropical fish, and handful of very loud, spinach-loving finches. And her collection of action figures and statues from “Star Wars”, “Lord of the Rings”, “X-Men”, and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Everybody needs some inspiration, after all.
www.facebook.com/SuzanneEnoch
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
October 15, 2009
My problem with this story is the sexual mores in it. I find it very distressing that a young woman who is completely dependent on her position as a schoolteacher would risk her livelihood by dallying with a careless lord, including having a sexual encounter in her schoolroom. I spent the whole book waiting her someone to catch her and for her to get fired. I was disappointed that she had such reckless decision-making and also at the hero for being so selfish as to pursue an affair with a woman who really had to be careful about her reputation. I guess I need to lighten up, but this really affected my ability to enjoy this story.
I didn't find it very realistic for the times. Yeah maybe this was a hot duke, but a few moments of passion isn't worth losing your job and being thrown out on the streets and destitute. Not to mention she is trying to set a good example for the young ladies she is teaching. Nowadays, a single woman who is a teacher can probably have an affair and it's not a big deal. But back in the Regency period, a woman's reputation was very important and extremely fragile. She had little means and no family. It was very jarring and unrealistic. I realize this is romance and it's fantasy, but when I spend the whole time thinking of the the consequences of a character's actions, and not the romance, that's not very romantic to me.
Otherwise, it was enjoyable. I liked Emma. I thought she was a good heroine, although her behavior struck me as reckless and foolish. I didn't think much of the duke, and my opinion didn't change much because of his actions towards Emma. He had nothing to lose, and she had everything, but I'm not sure that occurred to him. There was some funny parts, and sparkling dialogue. But a selfish hero like Greydon is not to my taste.
I didn't find it very realistic for the times. Yeah maybe this was a hot duke, but a few moments of passion isn't worth losing your job and being thrown out on the streets and destitute. Not to mention she is trying to set a good example for the young ladies she is teaching. Nowadays, a single woman who is a teacher can probably have an affair and it's not a big deal. But back in the Regency period, a woman's reputation was very important and extremely fragile. She had little means and no family. It was very jarring and unrealistic. I realize this is romance and it's fantasy, but when I spend the whole time thinking of the the consequences of a character's actions, and not the romance, that's not very romantic to me.
Otherwise, it was enjoyable. I liked Emma. I thought she was a good heroine, although her behavior struck me as reckless and foolish. I didn't think much of the duke, and my opinion didn't change much because of his actions towards Emma. He had nothing to lose, and she had everything, but I'm not sure that occurred to him. There was some funny parts, and sparkling dialogue. But a selfish hero like Greydon is not to my taste.
May 25, 2025
3'5 Estrellitas. Me ha gustado más de lo que pensaba, porque mis expectativas iban a cero, y el principio se me hizo tedioso y no lo pillaba por ningún lado. Sabéis que mi percepción sobre las dotes investigadoras o de historiadora de Suzanne Enoch son nulas y es por eso que no suele gustarme. Al principio la historia ha ido así, pero a mitad más o menos ha empezado a cambiar para bien.
"Una historia de escándalo" es el tercer y último libro de la trilogía Con este anillo, de Suzanne Enoch. Y en él tenemos la historia de Emma Grenville, la directora de la academia de señoritas, donde estudiaron Alexandra y Vixen y se hicieron amigas de ella.
La academia se encuentra en Hampshire, en tierras del conde de Haverly, y la paz llegará a su fin cuando el duque de Wycliffe, Greydon Brakenridge y sobrino del conde de Haverly, venga de visita con unos amigos de Londres (esto último es lo que me ha chirriado de la novela, las pelanduscas que vienen con él, que se supone son damas de bien y se van con un grupo de hombres, sin carabinas o madres, y dispuestas a que Grey les ponga el anillo en el dedo).
Cuando Grey llega a casa de su tío ve que las finanzas han menguado progresivamente y le exige un cambio de administrador, además de subir las rentas de los arrendatarios para paliar éste problema. Entre dichas rentas, se encuentra el ínfimo alquiler que paga la academia de señoritas Grenville. Grey no es nada partidario de este tipo de establecimientos, piensa que son todos para crear cazafortunas y atrapar maridos, así que no le importaría que la academia tuviera que cerrar.
Pero la oposición de su fiel defensora, la directora, Emma Grenville, no se dejará pisotear por el duque, y no cerrará su establecimiento. Así es como comenzará la lucha de poderes entre los protagonistas. A cambio de limpiar y administrar Emma las finanzas del conde de Haverly, el duque de Wycliffe enseñará a las jovencitas de la academia como moverse en sociedad. ¿Qué puede enseñar un libertino contrario al matrimonio a unas jovencitas que solo han nacido para hacer un buen matrimonio?
La verdad es que el argumento no hay por donde cogerlo, la apuesta no tiene razón de ser, pero sí es el motivo que unirá a nuestros protagonistas. Es verdad que el punto fuerte en éste libro es el romance, admito que me ha gustado mucho. Los personajes son atractivos y entre ellos hay mucha química casi desde el principio, Grey siente mucha atracción por Emma y hará lo imposible por hacerla suya. Pero con lo que Emma no contaba es que Wycliffe iba a acabar educando a unas señoritas, y a medida que pasa el libro, es Wycliffe el que acabará educado.
Sí, el cambio más notorio de toda la novela es la actitud de Wycliffe. En principio, éste odiaba la idea del matrimonio, pues una señorita que se educó en dicha institución, estuvo a punto de atraparle. De ahí que Grey piense que ésa academia solo vale para atrapar maridos. Pero una vez ponga el pie en la academia, conozca a la directora y a sus jovencitas, se dará cuenta de que la educación que reciben es excelente, y poco a poco, cada una de las damitas irá rompiendo ése duro corazón que tiene Grey.
Lo admito, al final sí que me ha gustado. Pero de toda la trilogía el que más, ha sido el segundo y luego éste; el primero no me gustó nada. De esta manera puedo dar por concluida otra serie, pero estoy segura de que de haber leído esta trilogía hace más de quince años, me habría gustado más.
"Una historia de escándalo" es el tercer y último libro de la trilogía Con este anillo, de Suzanne Enoch. Y en él tenemos la historia de Emma Grenville, la directora de la academia de señoritas, donde estudiaron Alexandra y Vixen y se hicieron amigas de ella.
La academia se encuentra en Hampshire, en tierras del conde de Haverly, y la paz llegará a su fin cuando el duque de Wycliffe, Greydon Brakenridge y sobrino del conde de Haverly, venga de visita con unos amigos de Londres (esto último es lo que me ha chirriado de la novela, las pelanduscas que vienen con él, que se supone son damas de bien y se van con un grupo de hombres, sin carabinas o madres, y dispuestas a que Grey les ponga el anillo en el dedo).
Cuando Grey llega a casa de su tío ve que las finanzas han menguado progresivamente y le exige un cambio de administrador, además de subir las rentas de los arrendatarios para paliar éste problema. Entre dichas rentas, se encuentra el ínfimo alquiler que paga la academia de señoritas Grenville. Grey no es nada partidario de este tipo de establecimientos, piensa que son todos para crear cazafortunas y atrapar maridos, así que no le importaría que la academia tuviera que cerrar.
Pero la oposición de su fiel defensora, la directora, Emma Grenville, no se dejará pisotear por el duque, y no cerrará su establecimiento. Así es como comenzará la lucha de poderes entre los protagonistas. A cambio de limpiar y administrar Emma las finanzas del conde de Haverly, el duque de Wycliffe enseñará a las jovencitas de la academia como moverse en sociedad. ¿Qué puede enseñar un libertino contrario al matrimonio a unas jovencitas que solo han nacido para hacer un buen matrimonio?
La verdad es que el argumento no hay por donde cogerlo, la apuesta no tiene razón de ser, pero sí es el motivo que unirá a nuestros protagonistas. Es verdad que el punto fuerte en éste libro es el romance, admito que me ha gustado mucho. Los personajes son atractivos y entre ellos hay mucha química casi desde el principio, Grey siente mucha atracción por Emma y hará lo imposible por hacerla suya. Pero con lo que Emma no contaba es que Wycliffe iba a acabar educando a unas señoritas, y a medida que pasa el libro, es Wycliffe el que acabará educado.
Sí, el cambio más notorio de toda la novela es la actitud de Wycliffe. En principio, éste odiaba la idea del matrimonio, pues una señorita que se educó en dicha institución, estuvo a punto de atraparle. De ahí que Grey piense que ésa academia solo vale para atrapar maridos. Pero una vez ponga el pie en la academia, conozca a la directora y a sus jovencitas, se dará cuenta de que la educación que reciben es excelente, y poco a poco, cada una de las damitas irá rompiendo ése duro corazón que tiene Grey.
Lo admito, al final sí que me ha gustado. Pero de toda la trilogía el que más, ha sido el segundo y luego éste; el primero no me gustó nada. De esta manera puedo dar por concluida otra serie, pero estoy segura de que de haber leído esta trilogía hace más de quince años, me habría gustado más.
July 26, 2015
I won't bother with a long review as this book did not really create a strong, lasting impression. There are a lot of stupid arguments between Emma and Grey, but what's worse is how Enoch manages to squeeze in sex scenes (mandatory, of course) in a scenario of a virtuous headmistress being seduced by a duke. One would really need the headmistress to set a good example for her charges, after all, and some of her problems seemed to have been caused by insta-lust.
I particularly did not enjoy the very last minute marriage proposal/love declaration - while it may be understandable in some stories, it rings false in this case, almost like a last desperate scheme to set the world right by romance-novel standards.
Ultimately, while some of Enoch's novels are worthy of being keepers, unfortunately her novels are just not on the same level as Kleypas, but occasionally, even less than Hawkins, whom I consider to be a middling author. It is a shame, but alas, there are only so many rare talents in this genre and the perfunctory sex scenes do often hinder the actual romantic developments that is the focus of romance novels.
I particularly did not enjoy the very last minute marriage proposal/love declaration - while it may be understandable in some stories, it rings false in this case, almost like a last desperate scheme to set the world right by romance-novel standards.
Ultimately, while some of Enoch's novels are worthy of being keepers, unfortunately her novels are just not on the same level as Kleypas, but occasionally, even less than Hawkins, whom I consider to be a middling author. It is a shame, but alas, there are only so many rare talents in this genre and the perfunctory sex scenes do often hinder the actual romantic developments that is the focus of romance novels.
July 2, 2008
A light historical with a feisty get-out-of-my-way heroine and a Jo Cool alpha who unexpectedly falls in love with the least likely woman.
Witty in your face dialog, some very mean characters from the infamous "ton" all set around a school that teaches girls how to become respectable ladies.
Not a lot of bedroom steam here but if you're looking for a well-written quick story for the weekend this would be a good one to pick up.
Witty in your face dialog, some very mean characters from the infamous "ton" all set around a school that teaches girls how to become respectable ladies.
Not a lot of bedroom steam here but if you're looking for a well-written quick story for the weekend this would be a good one to pick up.
December 14, 2018
Definitivamente esta serie no era lo que esperaba. Demasiado forzadas las historias, y a la vez excesivamente simples. Lo personajes se muestran con carácter, para caer en lo mismo de siempre.
August 9, 2017
Whenever I am in a funk, I can almost always count on Suzanne Enoch to pull me out of it. Her books are brain candy, filled with witty banter, sexy men, and hilarious situations. While this book would not be what I consider a deep, historically accurate novel, it had all the elements that make up a good story.
In previous reviews, I've mentioned that Enoch often uses a formula:
Step 1: sexy man meets quirky but intelligent woman
Step 2: they have witty banter and sexual chemistry
Step 3: something bad happens that causes the hero and heroine to realize they have deep feelings
Step 4: all their friends/family band together to take on the threat
Step 5: HEA
Do you want to know what I think of this formula? It's PERFECTION. I never get tired of it. I always enjoy it because Enoch executes it so well. The Duke and the headmistress trope was well done here and some reviews complain that the woman risked too much by sleeping with the duke, but I really didn't get that vibe. They had chemistry from the get-go and they were both independent adults. They just clicked.
While I didn't love the other novels in this series, this one is worth reading. The duke is hilarious, witty, sexy, and humorously stubborn. Emma is independent and opinionated, but still relatable and fun. The school girls are adorable and add nice layers. The duke's friend, Tristan (hero of The Rake) is a wonderful counterpoint to the duke and their dialogue often had me in stitches. And the duke's "lessons" with the school girls? NOT TO BE MISSED. Oh my goodness...I was HOWLING!
In all, this had a lot of lightness, humor, and nice romance. A really nice break if you've been reading a lot of duds and want to escape and laugh for a while.
In previous reviews, I've mentioned that Enoch often uses a formula:
Step 1: sexy man meets quirky but intelligent woman
Step 2: they have witty banter and sexual chemistry
Step 3: something bad happens that causes the hero and heroine to realize they have deep feelings
Step 4: all their friends/family band together to take on the threat
Step 5: HEA
Do you want to know what I think of this formula? It's PERFECTION. I never get tired of it. I always enjoy it because Enoch executes it so well. The Duke and the headmistress trope was well done here and some reviews complain that the woman risked too much by sleeping with the duke, but I really didn't get that vibe. They had chemistry from the get-go and they were both independent adults. They just clicked.
While I didn't love the other novels in this series, this one is worth reading. The duke is hilarious, witty, sexy, and humorously stubborn. Emma is independent and opinionated, but still relatable and fun. The school girls are adorable and add nice layers. The duke's friend, Tristan (hero of The Rake) is a wonderful counterpoint to the duke and their dialogue often had me in stitches. And the duke's "lessons" with the school girls? NOT TO BE MISSED. Oh my goodness...I was HOWLING!
In all, this had a lot of lightness, humor, and nice romance. A really nice break if you've been reading a lot of duds and want to escape and laugh for a while.
June 20, 2009
Grey really despises women and Emma doesn't think too highly of her fellow man either so this story has an amusing battle of the sexes. His opinion of female education and their usefulness was pretty outrageous. (Really, dude. Don't hold back. Tell us how you feel) Their combative relationship was a lot of fun to read about and for the first half of the book I was really enjoying it. Grey's and Emma's witty banter was very lively and I was pretty happy with my decision to force myself to read this book (I disliked the second book in this series, Meet Me At Midnight), when suddenly the second half of this book got weird. It gets really crowded and a little jaw dropping. The scandal that hit the fan was pretty shocking. For that time period and counting in Emma's position as a headmistress, the woman who must be above reproach, I honestly didn't think they were going to be able to recover. I kinda assumed it was going to end with them running off to China to escape the mob.
Normally I get annoyed when the heroine makes excessive demands for independence but in this instance Emma's breathless acceptance of Grey's proposal irritated me. I so totally understand her reasons and understand that she was getting hit at from all sides but still. Humph. While I'm complaining I didn't like Grey's mother and I still don't get what Grey was doing with Freddie. Plus, I'm angry that Grey left Emma alone for even a moment to face everyone by herself.
So while I started off liking this book, by the end of it I was confused..... and disappointed. :(
Normally I get annoyed when the heroine makes excessive demands for independence but in this instance Emma's breathless acceptance of Grey's proposal irritated me. I so totally understand her reasons and understand that she was getting hit at from all sides but still. Humph. While I'm complaining I didn't like Grey's mother and I still don't get what Grey was doing with Freddie. Plus, I'm angry that Grey left Emma alone for even a moment to face everyone by herself.
So while I started off liking this book, by the end of it I was confused..... and disappointed. :(
December 21, 2017
Leído y disfrutado hace años. No sé porque no lo tenía calificado pero tomando en cuenta que casi no lo recuerdo supongo que fue un libro normalon! Me gustaron más los anteriores ❤️
February 3, 2018
3.5 cause I wanted an epilogue
August 3, 2025
"A Matter of Scandal" marks the captivating conclusion of Suzanne Enoch's beloved "With This Ring" series. The narrative centers on the intricate battle of the sexes, where Grey and Emma's ideological confrontations regarding female education mirror their deepening romantic entanglement. Through richly drawn characters and vivid settings, Ms. Enoch crafts a compelling exploration of the challenges faced by aristocratic women in early nineteenth-century England, all woven into a passionate romance that is sure to enchant fans of the genre. You can find full review on my blog: https://poetryofreading.blogspot.com
December 12, 2017
Enjoyable novel with a spirited and strong willed heroine. The H was annoying at times; he only became a little less aggravating towards the final quarter of the story. The two OW were dull as dishwater, because they seemed incapable of acting as conventionally "evil" OW are expected to. In fact, it was the machinations of one of the OW - who sent spiteful letters intending to ruin the heroine - that actually brought the H to the full realization that he loved the heroine and wanted to marry her. It was great to see Alexandra and Lucien make a cameo appearance towards the end and I almost wished that they had brought their little dog Shakes with them ( they were the MC's in Reforming A Rake ).
Maybe I might read this again someday. Who knows ?
Maybe I might read this again someday. Who knows ?
October 5, 2009
A fun ride with a girl's school headmistress and a rakish woman-hating duke. Worth a read, if you enjoy bad behavior and rakes, in general. It has the added bonus of a varied cast, such as students, Triston (the rake from 'The Rake' before his love story), Grey's ex-mistress, reappearance of this series' H/Hs and so on. They are also quite entertaining. The fights between Emma and Grey are fun and there is no angst. Thank God! Emma is easy to relate to, as she is basically a modern woman, working for her livelihood and being independent. Still, she is very feminine and does not come off abrasive or anything, like other historical independent female characters.
I found this more memorable than the previous book, despite the fact that i enjoyed all of them probably equally. This one is a little more...stimulating - in more than one way. Plus, it has the social class issue that we, Modern women like to see challenged.
I found this more memorable than the previous book, despite the fact that i enjoyed all of them probably equally. This one is a little more...stimulating - in more than one way. Plus, it has the social class issue that we, Modern women like to see challenged.
February 2, 2021
3.4
It was almost "there" for me to bump it higher but all things considered, there were some attitudes the characters showed which I don't think were well portrayed and the end could have been done a little more effortlessly.
It was almost "there" for me to bump it higher but all things considered, there were some attitudes the characters showed which I don't think were well portrayed and the end could have been done a little more effortlessly.
July 7, 2008
I liked the tension between the h/h from the beginning. Nice theme of setting a wager and then they both realize that they can learn things.
March 21, 2020
5 stars!
A strong-headed, feminist mistress and a rake on a bet. A group of wonderful students in a finishing school. Oooh, it was swoony and romantic and encouraging.
Full review to come
A strong-headed, feminist mistress and a rake on a bet. A group of wonderful students in a finishing school. Oooh, it was swoony and romantic and encouraging.
Full review to come
October 11, 2025
El libro por alguna razón me hizo recordar cuando leía Wattpad, me devolvió a los 15 años.
Resulta bastante predecible más sin embargo no hace que el lector pierda el interés , es un libro para romper la rutina o simplemente para salir de bloqueo lector.
Resulta bastante predecible más sin embargo no hace que el lector pierda el interés , es un libro para romper la rutina o simplemente para salir de bloqueo lector.
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January 5, 2016Sex and School, Yuk.
Greydon Brakenridge, the Duke of Wycliffe, was duty-bound to help his uncle with his money woes. Toward that end, he suggested that his uncle triple his estate's rents. Emma Grenville, headmistress of the finishing school situated on the Duke's uncle's estate, knew that the elevated rent would destroy the goals of her academy, so she protested this rent increase. The Duke had reasons to want the Academy shuttered, and in his arrogance, he suggested a wager between himself and Miss Grenville. If she won, her rent would not be escalated. If he won, the school would be in danger of closing.
Everything about this book is completely implausible, and the cuteness of the students could only go so far to save this story. For me, it just got tedious. A man among a bunch of young girls teaching them about rakes, was wrong on so many levels, and supervised by his lover, was barely palatable in Regency, Victorian, or Contemporary times. To me, it is disappointing to have the headmistress of a school breaking all of her own rules. And it is just gross that she is having sex with intentional actions that are bound to ensure an illegitimate pregnancy just steps away from the young students. Even in our present, more relaxed society, most would deem these actions completely unacceptable, immoral, irresponsible and sickening.
Emma was everything she did not want for her students. She engaged in every kind of behavior that would bring dishonor and ruin to herself, her students, and to her aunt's legacy. Her actions made a mockery of her aunt's gift of the school to ensure that Emma would have a way to take care of herself. A woman who would rather have sex once or twice over her very livelihood, is not a good candidate to be shaping young women's futures. This behavior was especially hard to swallow, because it was explained that at 12 years old, the heroine was thrown in the streets to fend for herself and spent months in a work house.
The whole wager plot was against all rules and mores of any society, and the ultimate in bad business judgment. We are to believe that a person trying to save a school would hinge her total future and that of the school and the students on a reputation-ruining bet. Of course, readers of romance do allow suspension of reality a lot, but this author asks too much.
Just thinking of the Duke talking with girls 12-17 years old about how rakes act and then the next scene is him having sex with their mentor, left me nauseous. Not to mention that he had his previous mistress at his aunt and uncle's home at the same time. Also, why would a 12 year old be in this class with a 17 year old? In most worlds, a 12 year would not have need of this instruction.
The ending was just ludicrous. None of these actions were even remotely believable. And none of these actions would have, in reality, solved any of the problems of the characters in the book. The ending just left me feeling like I wasted my time. This is a sad ending to an otherwise good series.
Greydon Brakenridge, the Duke of Wycliffe, was duty-bound to help his uncle with his money woes. Toward that end, he suggested that his uncle triple his estate's rents. Emma Grenville, headmistress of the finishing school situated on the Duke's uncle's estate, knew that the elevated rent would destroy the goals of her academy, so she protested this rent increase. The Duke had reasons to want the Academy shuttered, and in his arrogance, he suggested a wager between himself and Miss Grenville. If she won, her rent would not be escalated. If he won, the school would be in danger of closing.
Everything about this book is completely implausible, and the cuteness of the students could only go so far to save this story. For me, it just got tedious. A man among a bunch of young girls teaching them about rakes, was wrong on so many levels, and supervised by his lover, was barely palatable in Regency, Victorian, or Contemporary times. To me, it is disappointing to have the headmistress of a school breaking all of her own rules. And it is just gross that she is having sex with intentional actions that are bound to ensure an illegitimate pregnancy just steps away from the young students. Even in our present, more relaxed society, most would deem these actions completely unacceptable, immoral, irresponsible and sickening.
Emma was everything she did not want for her students. She engaged in every kind of behavior that would bring dishonor and ruin to herself, her students, and to her aunt's legacy. Her actions made a mockery of her aunt's gift of the school to ensure that Emma would have a way to take care of herself. A woman who would rather have sex once or twice over her very livelihood, is not a good candidate to be shaping young women's futures. This behavior was especially hard to swallow, because it was explained that at 12 years old, the heroine was thrown in the streets to fend for herself and spent months in a work house.
The whole wager plot was against all rules and mores of any society, and the ultimate in bad business judgment. We are to believe that a person trying to save a school would hinge her total future and that of the school and the students on a reputation-ruining bet. Of course, readers of romance do allow suspension of reality a lot, but this author asks too much.
Just thinking of the Duke talking with girls 12-17 years old about how rakes act and then the next scene is him having sex with their mentor, left me nauseous. Not to mention that he had his previous mistress at his aunt and uncle's home at the same time. Also, why would a 12 year old be in this class with a 17 year old? In most worlds, a 12 year would not have need of this instruction.
The ending was just ludicrous. None of these actions were even remotely believable. And none of these actions would have, in reality, solved any of the problems of the characters in the book. The ending just left me feeling like I wasted my time. This is a sad ending to an otherwise good series.
September 28, 2022
Srta. Emma Grenville é a diretora da escola de boas maneiras para jovens damas.
Escola cuja diretora anterior havia sido a tia de Emma, estava naquele local, em Hampshire, há bastante tempo, tendo como dono das terras lorde Haverly.
Haverly vinha tendo problemas financeiros, e buscou ajuda com seu sobrinho, o duque de Wycliffe.
Greydon Brakenridge aproveitou sua ida para Hampshire para fugir de um certo acontecimento enervante em Londres: mais uma vez uma dama tentou colocá-lo numa situação comprometedora para obrigá-lo a casar. Ele sabia que essa moça em questão havia estudado na escola de Srta. Grenville.
Para Grey esse tipo de escola só servia para ensinar as moças a serem manipuladoras e trapaceiras, obrigando nobres a casarem. Por isso, quando ele chegou nas terras do tio, e soube de sua situação financeira, Grey logo viu a oportunidade de fechar a escola, aconselhando ao tio a aumentar o aluguel 3x mais.
Emma imediatamente entrou em ação, tentando evitar que tantas moças fossem prejudicadas, o que acaba numa altercação entre ela e o duque e uma aposta sobre a importância do local.
Se fosse apenas pela aposta (ridícula) entre elea, tudo poderia seguir tranquilamente. Mas Grey havia levado 'convidados', entre eles Trsitan Carroway, Visconde Dare (que também mostra interesse em Emma), e Alice Boswell e Sylvia Kincard, duas 'damas' tentando fincar as garras em Grey, já tendo sido amantes dele em alguma ocasião.
O período em que cada um está preparando sua parte para a apresentação da tal aposta é interessante e divertido. E quando Emma se vê em meio a uma fofoca de proporções giganstescas que arruinariam não somente a reputação dela, mas poderia causar o fechamento da escola, Grey precisa agir rápido - assim como Dare e as alunas. Aqui, não há apenas 1 heróis - se não quiser perder a chance de ter Emma como sua duquesa.
Este livro, na minha opinião, é um pouco melhor que o anterior.
5 estrelas
Escola cuja diretora anterior havia sido a tia de Emma, estava naquele local, em Hampshire, há bastante tempo, tendo como dono das terras lorde Haverly.
Haverly vinha tendo problemas financeiros, e buscou ajuda com seu sobrinho, o duque de Wycliffe.
Greydon Brakenridge aproveitou sua ida para Hampshire para fugir de um certo acontecimento enervante em Londres: mais uma vez uma dama tentou colocá-lo numa situação comprometedora para obrigá-lo a casar. Ele sabia que essa moça em questão havia estudado na escola de Srta. Grenville.
Para Grey esse tipo de escola só servia para ensinar as moças a serem manipuladoras e trapaceiras, obrigando nobres a casarem. Por isso, quando ele chegou nas terras do tio, e soube de sua situação financeira, Grey logo viu a oportunidade de fechar a escola, aconselhando ao tio a aumentar o aluguel 3x mais.
Emma imediatamente entrou em ação, tentando evitar que tantas moças fossem prejudicadas, o que acaba numa altercação entre ela e o duque e uma aposta sobre a importância do local.
Se fosse apenas pela aposta (ridícula) entre elea, tudo poderia seguir tranquilamente. Mas Grey havia levado 'convidados', entre eles Trsitan Carroway, Visconde Dare (que também mostra interesse em Emma), e Alice Boswell e Sylvia Kincard, duas 'damas' tentando fincar as garras em Grey, já tendo sido amantes dele em alguma ocasião.
O período em que cada um está preparando sua parte para a apresentação da tal aposta é interessante e divertido. E quando Emma se vê em meio a uma fofoca de proporções giganstescas que arruinariam não somente a reputação dela, mas poderia causar o fechamento da escola, Grey precisa agir rápido - assim como Dare e as alunas. Aqui, não há apenas 1 heróis - se não quiser perder a chance de ter Emma como sua duquesa.
Este livro, na minha opinião, é um pouco melhor que o anterior.
5 estrelas
August 13, 2015
"A Matter of Scandal" rounds out Suzanne Enoch's "With This Ring" series, which was so enjoyable overall that I'm pained that there is no epilogue to catch a last glimpse of these couples' happily ever afters. The premise was very similar to Lex and Lucien's only in that it is a nobleman falling for a prim governess, but beyond that Grey and Emma were very much their own power couple.
I loved Grey despite the rather rough start to his character. He has an air of entitlement that comes with being a duke, expecting people to fawn and fall for him, and is an unapologetic rake who doesn't have a high opinion of women. On the other hand, Emma does not think too highly of the other gender either so their butting of heads naturally comes to a high-stakes wager which acts as the excuse for them to see each other.
Their chemistry was so hot that, for once, I did not skim over the steamy scenes. The author had a very good sense of balance when it came to writing their relationship that they appeared to be on equal footing throughout the entirety, which is really refreshing. I loved the angsty build-up to the ending though still understand how hypocritical it is for a headmistress to fall victim to a well-known rake (heh). Grey did such a 180 that one can't help but root for him.
Why is there no epilogue? The author loves taking us on the journey but I am desperate for a glimpse of their happy ending! (Apparently, Dare will get his own book in a later series. I had actually read his and Georgie's book a year ago - out of chronological order - and had a nagging feeling the entire time that his title sounded very familiar. Time to refresh my memory!)
I loved Grey despite the rather rough start to his character. He has an air of entitlement that comes with being a duke, expecting people to fawn and fall for him, and is an unapologetic rake who doesn't have a high opinion of women. On the other hand, Emma does not think too highly of the other gender either so their butting of heads naturally comes to a high-stakes wager which acts as the excuse for them to see each other.
Their chemistry was so hot that, for once, I did not skim over the steamy scenes. The author had a very good sense of balance when it came to writing their relationship that they appeared to be on equal footing throughout the entirety, which is really refreshing. I loved the angsty build-up to the ending though still understand how hypocritical it is for a headmistress to fall victim to a well-known rake (heh). Grey did such a 180 that one can't help but root for him.
Why is there no epilogue? The author loves taking us on the journey but I am desperate for a glimpse of their happy ending! (Apparently, Dare will get his own book in a later series. I had actually read his and Georgie's book a year ago - out of chronological order - and had a nagging feeling the entire time that his title sounded very familiar. Time to refresh my memory!)
February 11, 2023
This was a lot of fun! It started out a bit slow for me but the plot was solid and the chemistry between Emma and Grey is really good. They have a really entertaining dynamic with lots of fun banter, and I really loved it.
Emma is a really good character; she’s spiky and clever and the humour that resulted from watching him try to keep up with her was great. You could see Grey falling for her over the course of the book – I loved the parts where he actively wants to bicker with her because he enjoys her wit, her fierceness, her prickliness. He’s so protective over her as well and I found that really sweet.
I will say that I found the ending a bit muddled – not so much the romance but the external plotline, which I personally felt resolved unsatisfactorily. I still had some questions and felt a bit of frustration with how that all ended. But overall the book was really strong – it’s very fun, very sexy, and most of all romantic. A really solid historical romance that has fun with the concept and its characters.
Content Notes: Bargains/deals/wagers, enemies-to-lovers, wallflower FMC, reformed rake
Warnings:
Other: .
Emma is a really good character; she’s spiky and clever and the humour that resulted from watching him try to keep up with her was great. You could see Grey falling for her over the course of the book – I loved the parts where he actively wants to bicker with her because he enjoys her wit, her fierceness, her prickliness. He’s so protective over her as well and I found that really sweet.
I will say that I found the ending a bit muddled – not so much the romance but the external plotline, which I personally felt resolved unsatisfactorily. I still had some questions and felt a bit of frustration with how that all ended. But overall the book was really strong – it’s very fun, very sexy, and most of all romantic. A really solid historical romance that has fun with the concept and its characters.
Content Notes: Bargains/deals/wagers, enemies-to-lovers, wallflower FMC, reformed rake
Warnings:
Other: .
August 3, 2016
This wasn't the first time I had read this novel. A couple years ago I picked it up in a 2nd hand book store and when I started transitioning part of my bookcase to Kindle last year, this was one of the novels I really wanted to get a copy of.
It's a good, solid historical romance. The characters are interesting and the situations different. I like that they can't get along with each other at the beginning, and love that they have to change each other's mind pertaining to the school. I especially like that Emma's an intelligent woman that gives the Duke as good as she gets.
I love this entire series, but Emma and her duke will always hold a special place for me.
It's a good, solid historical romance. The characters are interesting and the situations different. I like that they can't get along with each other at the beginning, and love that they have to change each other's mind pertaining to the school. I especially like that Emma's an intelligent woman that gives the Duke as good as she gets.
I love this entire series, but Emma and her duke will always hold a special place for me.
September 10, 2016
I wasn't sure if to give this book a four or five starts, but in the end I decided it did deserve a five star review. It was a charming and funny story, the characters were interesting, and their chemistry was nicely written.
P.S. But the first book from this series is still by far the best ...
P.S. But the first book from this series is still by far the best ...
March 2, 2019
I didn't like Emma. She ruined the story. She wasn't strong or backboned, just plain annoying I think.
I also didn't like the supporting cast, especially Viscount Dare. The author tried to make them funny but they were just invasive in the romance.
Grey was ok but I couldn't even appreciate him due to his surroundings lol.
I also didn't like the supporting cast, especially Viscount Dare. The author tried to make them funny but they were just invasive in the romance.
Grey was ok but I couldn't even appreciate him due to his surroundings lol.
August 10, 2023
This book started out really strong and lost steam halfway through. The chemistry between the leads was palpable in the first half and their banter was great, but once they actually got together, it got boring. I also wasn’t a fan of the end. The last 15% of the book was totally unnecessary. It was just an overdone miscommunication trope that went on for WAY to long.
November 2, 2012
Enjoyed this book and all the secondary characters. Had some LOL moments. I hope Tristan gets his own book.
March 16, 2015
Pribojavala sam se hoće li uspjeti biti jednako dobra kao prethodne dvije, ali nisam trebala! Odličan kraj serijala! Predobra je! Čista petica!
February 28, 2016
Nice but nothing special...
August 3, 2020
Perdi as contas de quantas vezes revirei os olhos lendo esse livro.
Para começar, Wycliffe é extremamente invasivo, um nobre egoísta, disposto a destruir a vida de alguém apenas para saciar a luxúria. Além de misógino e obsessivo.
Ah! Mas ele não permanece assim até o fim.
Não importa, aliás, esse tipo de coisas só acontecem em ficção. Na realidade é problemático e como entretenimento é insuportável de aturar.
Aí chegamos na mocinha, Emma Grenville, que até então se mostrava mais interessante. Conquistou sua independência trabalhando como diretora do colégio para moças, mas tudo se perdeu ao conhecer o mocinho.
A trama em si, se perde. A tal aposta foi um pano de fundo bem pobre e nem quero lembrar do final, patético.
Para começar, Wycliffe é extremamente invasivo, um nobre egoísta, disposto a destruir a vida de alguém apenas para saciar a luxúria. Além de misógino e obsessivo.
Ah! Mas ele não permanece assim até o fim.
Não importa, aliás, esse tipo de coisas só acontecem em ficção. Na realidade é problemático e como entretenimento é insuportável de aturar.
Aí chegamos na mocinha, Emma Grenville, que até então se mostrava mais interessante. Conquistou sua independência trabalhando como diretora do colégio para moças, mas tudo se perdeu ao conhecer o mocinho.
A trama em si, se perde. A tal aposta foi um pano de fundo bem pobre e nem quero lembrar do final, patético.
November 22, 2024
O livro que eu mais gostei da trilogia. Achei que Emma e Gray foram o casal mais engraçado e mais inusitado. Lógico que na situação que o livro colocou era Emma quem tinha tudo a perder e quase nada a ganhar relacionado a Gray, mas o livro foi divertido o bastante para me fazer relevar a situação.
As interações do Duque com as alunas foram a parte mais fofinha do livro, ele aos poucos entendendo que debutantes não eram demônios em forma de gente foi bonitinho.
Achei que Emma demoraria mais a ceder aos avanços de Grey devido a precariedade da sua posição, afinal um boato custaria tudo que ela tinha conquistado - mas a própria Emma não se preocupou tanto com isso e se pegou com o Duque dentro da própria escola rs
A principal vilã também foi meio que tirada de lugar nenhum, deveria ter sido melhor demostrado o interesse dela por Gray para que o golpe dela fosse mais verossímil.
Para mim esse foi o livro que salvou a trilogia, mas das séries que eu li da Suzanne essa foi a menos memorável.
As interações do Duque com as alunas foram a parte mais fofinha do livro, ele aos poucos entendendo que debutantes não eram demônios em forma de gente foi bonitinho.
Achei que Emma demoraria mais a ceder aos avanços de Grey devido a precariedade da sua posição, afinal um boato custaria tudo que ela tinha conquistado - mas a própria Emma não se preocupou tanto com isso e se pegou com o Duque dentro da própria escola rs
A principal vilã também foi meio que tirada de lugar nenhum, deveria ter sido melhor demostrado o interesse dela por Gray para que o golpe dela fosse mais verossímil.
Para mim esse foi o livro que salvou a trilogia, mas das séries que eu li da Suzanne essa foi a menos memorável.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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