The Charming Words of a Common Scoundrel

The Nouveau Riche #2

by Ramona Elmes

It all started with a late evening encounter between a scoundrel and a lady...

Sam Kincaide is known as nothing more than a common scoundrel and is only accepted in polite society because his adoptive brother is a duke. He happily embraces his reputation, never turning down a good time. Then something unlikely happens, he encounters Lady Clara, the young lady the ton calls the Ice Princess and even more surprising he likes her.

Lady Clara has a reputation as cold and unapproachable. Most lords and ladies avoid her at all costs. Her chance meeting with Sam Kincaide creates an unexpected friendship. Before she knows it, they are sharing secrets and inside jokes but what starts as a distraction from Clara’s impending betrothal becomes something more.

As these two unlikely friends become more drawn to each other, a danger lurks in the background that threatens not only their chance of happiness but also their lives. Can the most outrageous scoundrel in London and the Ice Princess of the ton really be the love match of the season?

Genres: Historical Romance

327 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2021

About the author

Since stealing her first historical romance novel from her mother more than twenty years ago, Ramona Elmes has been all in on the genre. In 2020, Ramona’s infatuation for the historical and steamy stirred her to start writing her own romances.

She completed her first series in 2023. The Nouveau Riche series is filled with lots of angst and steam centered around the Kincaide family moving to England for vengeful plans during the Victorian era. She is currently working on a new series in the same character world but focused on a group of misfit ladies trying to one up a long existing stuffy men’s only club.

When not creating ways to entice and torture her characters, she spends her days in Georgia coordinating her family’s crazy life, refereeing pets, and daydreaming on her front porch.

To get updates on Ramona’s books, you can follow her on Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, or her website.

Website: https://ramonaelmes.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RamonaElmes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elmes_ramona/

Reviews

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked The Charming Words of a Common Scoundrel up just because I love the book title so much. The hero is charming Sam Kincaide who lived on the streets of Philadelphia until he was adopted by the family of a duke. There is some backstory that is not entirely clear here but probably gets explained in another book. The heroine Clara has an icy reputation. They friendzone each other at a houseparty. There is some mutual attraction but Clara is expected to marry a peer. Unfortunately, Dolan, the man she is supposed to marry is of a vicious, violent nature. Sam offers to marry her instead and she accepts, getting disowned by her parents in the process. But he offers her her freedom and runs away immediately, and it's unclear whether the marriage will ever be anything but a distant relationship of convenience. Will they ever get over his abandonment or the secrets he's keeping from her? Will they be able to weather the scandal of their marriage and reconnect with Clara's cruel parents in order for her to see her little brother? WIll Sam get over the fact that his social class is lower than Clara's used to be?

I liked the debonair hero´ but I thought this book was a bit on the long side. Sam has the same misgivings over and over again. Some of the language feels rather modern and there are some punctuation issues. Content: scenes of sexual nature and domestic violence.

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

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clara's family is all about appearances. She is expected to be a lady at all times and to marry well to benefit her parents and her station. Sam was an orphan and although he was taken in by a Duke's family and wealthy in his own right, he is still not accepted. The two meet and become secret friends. When Sam finds Clara is about to become the wife of a Marquess and an abuser, he steps up and marries her. I could only give the story two stars, because the book dragged on in parts and for a couple that started as friends, they suddenly couldn't communicate. Sam felt the need to protect her by not telling her anything to protect herself. This led to misunderstandings and put her in more danger. I realize it was part of the times that the little woman needed a man, but their relationship started one way and completely changed when he married her.

[Mia Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ramona Elmes’ “The Charming Words of a Common Scoundrel” is book 2 in the The Nouveau Riche Series. This is my first time reading Ms. Elmes work and I must say I enjoyed it immensely.

Sam and Clara shared the sweet friendship despite her parents and the ton. While both longed for the other they got off track with misunderstandings. Wonderful characters caught up in other’s expectations they had their ups and downs. This is a wonderful story.

Thank you Ms. Elmes for such a sweet love story.

[R.J. Corgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second book of the Nouveau Riche Series, the romantic adventures of the unusual family continue, focusing on Sam. Not a lord and of no title, nonetheless the scoundrel attracts the eye of many a fair maiden. While in the first book, the character takes the lead in this latest novel, smitten as he is by the Lady Clara. He must extricate her from her complicated familial ties and face off against a potential rival. The world around this family continues to expand and draw the reader into another time, and another lusty romance.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Nouveau Riche Series a well written story that grabbed my interest from the start. Sam Kincaide and Lady Clara who is known as the Ice Princess by the Ton meet by chance and create an unexpected friendship. Their story has suspense, drama, danger, a very evil man, villains, kidnapping, and romance. The story was well worth reading. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aspoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMG, talk about frustrating. The heroine was the worst to the point I dropped the rating down a star. She did not deserve a man like Sam Kincaide. I wanted to give up so many times but I kept pushing through just to finish. I read books for enjoyment and maybe a little emotional aaaaw moments but definitely not to stress me out like this book did lol.