Dare to Cause a Scandal

Daring Daughters #4

by Emma V. Leech

Their mothers dared all for love. Just imagine what their daughters will do…

A one track mind…
Miss Arabella Hunt is a vivacious redhead with a kind heart and decisive nature. The daughter of the man who owns the notorious gambling den known as “Hunters” has set her sights on the beautiful Louis César de Montluc, the Comte de Villain. The trouble is, the devil doesn’t know she exists.

Mad, bad and dangerous to know…
Lawrence Grenville, the Marquess of Bainbridge, is a man with a damaged reputation and an uncertain temperament. His family is renowned for every kind of vice, and madness is said to run in his blood. Having recently seen his best friend find happiness and contentment with his new bride, Bainbridge wonders if he cannot follow the same path and put an end to the dissatisfaction and unhappiness that plagues his life.

A tricky situation…
When Arabella accepts Bainbridge’s help in securing the attention of Louis César, she has no idea what she is getting herself into. And when she finds herself trapped in her own net, she has no one to blame but herself.

Mad as a box of frogs…
Married to a man she does not know and is a little afraid of, Arabella hopes to find a welcome among her new husband’s family. What she discovers is a household filled with chaos and calamity, and drama enough for a dozen Greek tragedies. Her husband’s father, The Duke of Axton, loathes her on sight, and makes it his mission to chase her out of his son’s life for good. But for the first time in his life, Bainbridge has an ally… and the old duke has finally met his match.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Regency Romance, Regency, Historical Fiction, Amazon

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2021

About the author

Bestselling author hiding mostly in 19th-century England, venturing out only for chocolate and tea.

Emma V. Leech is the award-winning author of multiple bestselling series across Regency romance, Regency mystery and paranormal romance. Fall in love with swoon-worthy rogues, bold heroines, witty banter and deeply romantic happily-ever-afters. Follow Emma on BookBub for new releases and exclusive deals.

EMMA’S BOOKS

Rogues And Gentlemen
Regency romance – 17-book series (ongoing)
Sexy, tumultuous and irresistibly romantic. From pirates and smugglers to earls and dukes, these unforgettable rogues will sweep you away!

Winter Rogue
A Regency Christmas romance within the Rogues & Gentlemen world
A scandal-weary earl, a runaway heiress and a crumbling country estate snowed in for Christmas. A sensual, heart-tugging holiday novella about redemption, desire and a love neither of them expects.

A Rogues and Gentlemen Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
A collection of three romantic holiday stories featuring beloved Rogues & Gentlemen characters. Expect snowstorms, sizzling tension, unexpected proposals, mistletoe moments and heart-melting happily-ever-afters – a cosy festive escape for Regency romance lovers.

The Girl Is Not For Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
Miss Olivia Penrose is the only thing standing between her family and ruin when a brooding aristocrat crashes into her carefully laid plans. Sparks fly amid family secrets, snowy scandals and irresistible festive longing in this passionate, witty and deeply romantic winter read.

Girls Who Dare
Regency romance – 12-book series
Inside every wallflower is the heart of a lioness. When these overlooked young women make a pact to change their lives, rules are broken, reputations are risked and love becomes the most daring adventure of all.

Daring Daughters
Victorian romance – 19-book series and two compilations
The next generation of the Girls Who Dare. Their mothers risked everything for love – now their daughters are ready to be even bolder. An ongoing series of fiercely romantic stories set in a rapidly changing world.

Wicked Sons
Victorian romance – 12-book series
Their mothers dared all for love. Their sisters did the same. Now it’s the sons’ turn… dangerous, tempting and determined not to fall – until the right woman brings them to their knees.

The Venturesome Ladies Of Little Valentine
Regency romance – my current series
A quiet seaside village, a wave of scandalous newcomers and local ladies who refuse to be swept aside. A warm, witty Regency series full of secrets, second chances and delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

The Regency Romance Mysteries
Regency romantic suspense – 3-book series
Dashing heroes, wicked villains, murder, mystery – and heroines who refuse to sit prettily and wait to be rescued. Perfect if you like your Regency romance served with danger and intrigue.

The French Vampire Legend
Paranormal romance – 4-book series
A dark, dramatic and heart-wrenching tale of courage, sacrifice and a love that not even time, war or monsters can destroy. Gothic atmosphere, high stakes and a romance that refuses to die.

The French Fae Legend
Fantasy romance – 4-book series
An award-winning saga with close to sixteen million online reads. Moving between modern-day France and the Fae Lands, these books weave powerful magic, danger and an all-consuming love that proves stronger than any enchantment.

The Book Lover
A standalone paranormal romance novella
A book-obsessed young woman, an infuriatingly charming stranger and the unnerving sense that stories might be bleeding into real life. A short, intensely romantic tale for anyone who has ever fallen in love with books… and perhaps with something not entirely of this world.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!

Once again Emma knocks it out the ball park.. This story was incredible.. We have a feisty kind hearted red head and a bad tempered Marquess who has a dreadful family and along the way she proves to him that love is more important than lavish things. And let's not forget the parrot!! This is a must read for the summer.. Such a delightful read I look forward to the next book in this series..

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, Scandalous and Poignant

This is a very interesting tale of love everlasting.
Arabella and Laurie are a loving and witty couple.
This story is amazing!
Emma V. Leech writes an enchanting romance.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trapped by love
Arabella is infatuated with a man who is all wrong for her!
Arabella aka Bella has a dreadful crush and decides after several drinks of a spiked punch she's going to do something about it! Lord Bainbridge aka Laurie has watched Bella and fallen for her knowing she's exactly what a man with a scandalous reputation needs and it is she!? Laurie is spoiled and is from a family that is hideous in their pomp, self-interest and self indulgence! He does not accept the word No or understand it! When things don't go according to Bella plans but according to Laurie well Bella is in for the shock of her life! She can't believe this alternative universe she's found herself in but she's determined to take Laurie father and grandmother in hand! This did not go as planned. These two could not be more opposite but could something that started out as wrong be right?? Get ready to laugh out loud, cry and get a fan! Heat level is hot!!

[Gerda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice book for a summer on the beach, nothing you haven't read before.
The heroine's behaviour upon meeting her in-laws somehow didn't correspond to her previous. It was over the top and I doubt a newly wed would behave so outrageously.
Language and behaviour seemed to change from halfway Regency to modern towards the end. There was no drama, no twists nor turns, the interaction between hero and heroine were mostly sex scenes.

[Susan Saltos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book a lot. However, it seemed too short, not much happened, and it ended pretty abruptly.I would have liked to have seen her and Bainbridge spend more time with his niece and nephew, Bainbridge connect with his father as she did, and more time with Bella and Bainbridge getting to know each other more as people as pretty much every scene between them was a sex scene!

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐾 Dare to Cause a Scandal 🦜
Daring Daughters Book 4
✒️ Emma V Leech
https://www.facebook.com/EmmaVLeech/
Release Date 07/02/2021
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0917K85NT/...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

Their mothers dared all for love.
Just imagine what their daughters will do…

A one track mind…
Miss Arabella Hunt is a vivacious redhead with a kind heart and decisive nature. The daughter of the man who owns the notorious gambling den known as “Hunters” has set her sights on the beautiful Louis César de Montluc, the Comte de Villain. The trouble is, the devil doesn’t know she exists.

Mad, bad and dangerous to know…
Lawrence Grenville, the Marquess of Bainbridge, is a man with a damaged reputation and an uncertain temperament. His family is renowned for every kind of vice, and madness is said to run in his blood. Having recently seen his best friend find happiness and contentment with his new bride, Bainbridge wonders if he cannot follow the same path and put an end to the dissatisfaction and unhappiness that plagues his life.

A tricky situation…
When Arabella accepts Bainbridge’s help in securing the attention of Louis César, she has no idea what she is getting herself into. And when she finds herself trapped in her own net, she has no one to blame but herself.

Mad as a box of frogs…
Married to a man she does not know and is a little afraid of, Arabella hopes to find a welcome among her new husband’s family. What she discovers is a household filled with chaos and calamity, and drama enough for a dozen Greek tragedies. Her husband’s father, The Duke of Axton, loathes her on sight, and makes it his mission to chase her out of his son’s life for good. But for the first time in his life, Bainbridge has an ally… and the old duke has finally met his match.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Will his deceit doom their relationship…

I knew the release of this one was on a working weekend, so I woke up two hours earlier to dig into the story before getting ready for work. So it is not wonder if I act like a zombie later today.
So here we are, I enjoyed every minutes of my time with Arabella and Bainbridge.
Since I saw a pic a the new group of heroes for this series associating Bainbridge with Michael Fassbender, I perfectly imagined him as thus.
A man who goes for what he wants, whatever the means and the cost. He knows he behaves horribly, yet it is for his own salvation, to not end completely mad like his elder relatives.
Despite all his outrageous, shocking, scandalous actions, he is a decent fellow. He comes from a more than borderline family where wealth and bloodline are favored over one’s equilibrium and happiness. Why he refuses to follow their lead and wants to dig his own path, even if to reach his goal, it might not be in the most pristine decent way. In all, he may have the appearance of a grinchy bear, when he is still the wounded boy with a teddy’s heart inside.
Arabella is a mother hen, she is kind and caring but has claws and fangs when in need to defend those she believes need her protection. Even if she favors honey and jelly over fists, she is not one to be run over when challenged. She stands her ground and even believe the attack can be a successful endeavor when surrounded by birds of prey.
It is certain she grows a lot as she comes from being infatuated as a girl, to a compromised and duped young miss to a woman in love making rounds to gather her flocks once she has decided they are hers, whatever how bad they behave.
I loved them together beyond measure, they were so perfect for one another. She soothes him, he unravels her feisty temper. Once Lawrence trappes her, he is true to himself and shows all his colors, not hiding his flaws and failing but also asking for her outstretched hand, not afraid to demand her help, to confess he needs her to live. And Arabella could have stayed angry, with many rights yet she acknowledges in seduction there is need to be two, and he was not alone in their compromised demeanor.
One more hit with all these little glimpses of the other characters bout of life at each chapter’s entrance.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @30%
This series seem to be touch and go for me.Either I really like it or really hate it.

[LainieLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I loved this addition to the series as much as I have enjoyed all of Emma V. Leech's books. The last book in this series hinted at the scandal this addition focuses on - Lawrence Grenville, the Marquess of Bainbridge trapping Miss Arabella Hunt into marrying him.

Arabella is a very likable heroine and is everything our hero, Laurie, needs. She brings authority, kindness, order, and a moral compass to Laurie. He may be a bit mad, and his family is off the charts insane, but he instantly knew Arabella would be the perfect women for him. He desperately needed Arabella to take him, and his family, in hand. Laurie is a bit mad, protective, and an extremely entertaining hero.

Like all of Emma's historical romances this book has the perfect mix of sweet romance, a bit of smut, and great humor. I found myself laughing to myself quite a lot! The characters are so human and their personalities are very distinguishable from each other. I am impressed Emma can keep bringing to life so many characters who have their own personalities. None of the characters feel like too much of a repeat.

I'm super excited to read Flo and Henry's story. I'm very interested to see how that age gap is handled!

[Lana Birky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Arabella Hunt in the previous books & I have always expected Lawrence (Laurie) Grenville, Marquess of Bainbridge, to do something to redeem his attitude & reputation. Well, after trapping Arabella in his planned ruination, the strong, kind & loving lady agreed to marry him. But if you think for one minute it was an easy marriage, it wasn't! When Laurie took Arabella home to live with his family after their wedding, she was forced to face a harridan of a grandmother, his crabby, mean duke of a father, a horrible governess & a valet that was rude. Thank goodness her uncle was Montagu to give her strength against intimidation. The good side of all this was I literally laughed out loud through half of the book - funny situations, funny parrot, funny dogs & kids, hilarious aunt & her companion.

Their romance was one of my favorites I have read - it began as a horrible scandal, forced marriage & ended in true love. This entire series is so much fun with great stories to support romantic & sizzling couples!

[Carrie-anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have now read this twice!

Loved all of Bainbridge's family. The duke, the aunt and her companion, the parrott, they were all hilarious!

Would have liked to have seen Bainbridge and Dare together again. There is a lot made of the friendships between the peculiar ladies and now the daring daughters, but lets see some more of the male friendships too. We are told that these two consider eachother brothers, and we do get the odd letter and mention, but they were only 5 miles apart, couldn't we at least have had a dinner? Perhaps I am being unfair because male friendships have had a big part in some of the novels, particularly in "flaming June", and "To tame a savage heart" but I love Dare and Bainbridge together, so lets have more of that please?

I would also have liked Arabella more if she were a little less calm and understanding instead of coming accross so all knowing.

I think it is quite likely that I will read this again in the not too distant future....

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding his love

I absolutely loved Arabellas and Lauries story. I think this one is the best so far of the daughters. Bainbridge fell in love with Arabella at first seeing her. They way she handled people and the way she was with children. He knew he had to have her for his wife.
Arabella wanted the Louis to notice her, she is in love with him but he always runs away. Bainbridge offered to help her but what he really is doing is going to trap her into marrying him. When they are caught in a compromising position she has no choice. While Bainbridge is away taking care of an ill friend the Ton is having fun on Arabella calling her a wanton, hussy etc. When Bainbridge gets back and finds out what has happened he starts to destroy the printing presses. Arabella then realizes he has just saved her.
They marry and he wants her to take his family in hand. Such a fun, loving story!!!

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Marquess!

Larger than life Bainbridge and ladylike Arabella were definitely made for each other. His antics and her steadfastness make for a charming blend of two strong personalities.

[Reg Ferns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the most highly entertaining of the entire lot, the mothers or the daughters series. The romance is lovely and there is not a single boring moment. The heroine is good and not annoying or pig-headed and the hero is redeemable.

[Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! The plot reminded me of The Mad Earl's Bride by Loretta Chase, with a sensible heroine and a hero who thinks he's going to go mad. The hero in this one also reminded me of Vere Mallory from The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase.

[Ju Transcendancing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bainbridge puts me off for this, I love Arabella and I'm satisfied with how it ended up but how it began tainted it from the beginning for me.

[Vania Nunes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawrence Grenville, the Marquess of Bainbridge, is happy - and a little jealous - to see his best and only friend happily married and being treated well by his wife. Determined to have something similar in his own life, he decides it is time to find a wife for himself. His big problem is: who would be bold enough to agree to marry someone whose family has a reputation and history of being crazy?

When he meets Miss Arabella Hunt for the first time at a party at the country house, he is so fascinated by her red-haired beauty, as well as the affectionate way she treats everyone, that he thinks it best to run away, so as not to corrupt something so beautiful. However, the weeks pass and he cannot forget her. When he tries to find someone who can introduce her to him, all requests are denied. Arabella was too precious to even be seen in Bainbridge's company.

When then a person in common becomes the main element that can not only make Bainbridge approach her, but also make her get caught in his web...

Arabella was considered a precious jewel not only among her family, but among those who knew her.

For some time now, she had been trying all her tricks to get close to the handsome French Comte, while he did everything he could to avoid her and any other lady who had marriage ideas.

When, in a moment of distraction, she bumps into Bainbridge at a ball and discovers not only that he had been wanting to be introduced to her, but - and most importantly - that he was a personal friend of the Comte - she agrees to the introduction between them.

Soon, Bainbridge makes himself available to Arabella to help her to get the Comte's attention... when he himself wanted her in a compromising situation.

With the plan successful, even if Arabella had her father's permission to delay the wedding, the event would have to happen soon, or the Ton would take advantage of the gossip to destroy her perfect reputation.

And from the wedding onwards and the couple's trip to the Bainbridge ancestral home, how will Arabella deal with her new, willful, spoiled, and complicated family?

A cute couple with great chemistry.
5 stars

[Eowyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really really loved this book, every single page! I’ve read every book in the series so far and it’s just getting better and better. Arabella is strong, feisty, doesn’t take nonsense from anyone but yet has this absolute heart of gold that the hero, Marquis of Bainbridge, can see at first sight. I loved Laurie! He was refreshing, honest, direct, funny as hell and absolutely made me swoon. He decided he wanted this woman and he damn well won her! I absolutely loved the relationship between them. This book has some of the best dialogue in the series to date - the uproariously naughty minded Auntie and her companion, the parrot and the irreverent valet were all part of a story that was a joy to read. The little teasers for what’s to come were so enjoyable also. Can’t wait for the next book. Very very well done!

[Whatkatydidnt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun

I really enjoyed this story of a marquess from a family of tyrants & eccentric aunts and his feisty but kind bride. It has some rather implausible moments but it’s such good fun that you really won’t care. The relationship between the leads rings true and has you rooting for them in-spite of their poor behaviour at the start and there are parts that made me laugh out loud. I’m a big fan of the letters at the start of each chapter that help to weave in stories of what’s going on with secondary characters. I’m sure all their stories will be told in future Nolan& I’m really looking forward to discovering more of the unfolding relationship between Louis & Evie.

[emma locker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Glorious Romp

Emma does not disappoint. I love a good red head so two in one story was a treat. Bainbridge is everything I like in a hero, big, brooding, brimming with virility and surprisingly bashful. Arabella has a personality that leaps to life and together they set the sheets on fire. Emma continues in her style of sowing the seeds for other romances throughout with her letters and diary excerpts. I feel she has found a style which she is carving out as her own and gives the reader not just one story but a whole series which come together as one big mosaic of love, romance, and hot steamy sex.

[Myfina Mortimer - Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have in your summer collection!!

Another stunning novel from Emma V Leech. I am, time and time again, enveloped in the world that this author creates. With vivid descriptions, engaging and plausible conversations (let's be honest some HR writers can not nail this part!), and protagonists to fall in love with, these novels really do tick all the boxes. It is no wonder her readers keep coming back for more! This story had me hooked from the start (no spoilers) and I was so sad to have finished it in a day I had to go back and read it again to make myself feel better!
Do yourself a favour. If you haven't already, get this series!!

[Martha B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give it 5 stars, but ….

I loved Dare to Cause a Scandal. The story, characters, and humor were very entertaining, which would normally prompt me to review it with 5 stars.

However, even though Emma V. Leech is a very skilled writer and her style is one I like, I just could not get past the 77 times God and/or Christ was used as an expletive.

I just wish authors would realize they are insulting a large number of readers, and that with a little thought, they could use one of many other expletives in the dictionary.

Content 411: In addition to secular and religious swearing, there are several descriptive sex scenes.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as her other books

There is a convention used at the start of each chapter: excerpts from correspondence between various characters. In this book I found myself jarred and even annoyed with the interruptions to the story!
Arabella is a darling heroine. Her management of the governess and the Duke are great entertainment. Laurie is a worthy hero, a classic "I am not what I seem" fellow. Yet I felt the plot was forced along, for example, when the parrot meets the vicar's wife, and the seeds of other's stories (to sprout in subsequent books) are scattered haphazardly.

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This book is very funny, it’s more like a Historical Romcom than anything else 😂😂😂
I really enjoyed it and read in one sitting and often bursting into laugh while I was in the middle of reading this book! 😳😂

No angst or anything like that, it’s the incredible bonkers story of the hero’s family and I’ve got the author’s jokes too 😘😂.

It should be on telly, and put Catherine Tate’s Nan characters as The Dowager Duchess and Ralph Fiennes as The Duke. No, not the hero but his dad! 😘🤣

The relationship between H/h is lovely too, he is a totally besotted guy! 🤣🤣🤣.

So, if you want to read something light, sweet and a feel good story, this one could be for you! 😘

❤️❤️❤️

[Melba Hard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this Author & really enjoyed this book.

I have really enjoyed all of Emma's books and this one was no exception. Intact I think this book was exceptional.
Poor Arabella really did end up in a mad house but quickly managed to sort everyone. out just as Bainbridge had hoped. I loved the characters (even the outrage parrot, where did he learn all those words) There was a great deal of humour but also a beautiful love story.
I also like the letters at the beginning of each chapter which provides you with clues for future books.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid!
Arabella comes across as a very wise teenager who has learned exactly how to handle situations and people without upsetting them and in doing this she wins over even the most stubborn and nasty of characters.
However, when Bainbridge tricks her, her 'dare' goes horribly wrong and so she finds herself compromised. Had this not happened, we would not have this remarkably entertaining story to read and enjoy. And enjoy it I did.
A point of note is Arabella's introduction to the marriage bed which was so tender and sweet that I just had to mention it.
This is a beautifully written story with wonderful , clever, funny, crazy characters who kept me reading and wishing that the book would never end.

[Stephen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliantly captivating story

This is another brilliantly captivating story that continues a great series. This steamy plot continues the emotional journeys that the daughters of the peculiar ladies are undergoing. All of the characters are amazingly thought out and crafted with the strength and determination to go after what they want, and overcome all the obstacles and obnoxious people who are in their way.

[Stacey Lenard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE all of Leech’s work. I was almost sad when I read the last book of the previous series to this one. I love the Daring Daughters series just as much though. I love it when an author makes me laugh and this particular book made me laugh. Both the hero and the heroine were just excellent characters. I’m off to the # 5 in this series. I recommend you read all of her books because they definitely don’t disappoint.

[Catey Reidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

OMG!!! I LOVED IT, every single second. Arabella and Bainbridge are just the most delicious characters. It was a great read to learn about Bainbridge family. And all the rest of the friends are just as wonderful, so excited. I can’t wait for the next ones, Emma just keeps us on the edge of our seats waiting for the next Daring Daughter.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lawrence wants Arabella, so when she is sent on another fellow he offers to help. Instead he compromised her. Now he offered her marriage and she refused. He is determined. After she told him to swim the Seines and he did it she agrees to marry him. But his family is quite a challenge. What a fun book.

[AmazingJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Wonderful, Entertaining, Delightful & Romantic Book.

This Story was Absolutely Wonderful.

Arabella & Lawrence (Marquess of Bainbridge start off not knowing where life would take them.

Lawrence falls in love immediately & Arabella is in love with another man.

I am looking forward to reading Florence's Story next.