Three swoon-worthy historical romances in one boxed set! USA Today bestselling author Julie Johnstone’s Whisper of Scandal Regency Romance series sizzles from the first page to the last. Be prepared to be swept away by a dashing duke, a wicked rogue, and a dangerous lord! Venture from the glittering ballrooms to the decadent countryside of England where love is a game for the cunning and not the … decadent countryside of England where love is a game for the cunning and not the faint of heart.
Book 1 – Bargaining With a Rake
For eleven years, Gillian Rutherford has dreamed of escaping her family’s dark secret and living a normal life. Now, faced with an unwelcome marriage that will chain her to London and the secret slowly killing her, she’s desperate to save herself and the sister she adores. Salvation comes in the form of an American shipping tycoon, and all she must do is seduce him into marrying her. But Gillian’s scheme hits a snag when she makes a bargain with a notorious rake Alexander Trevelle, Lord Lionhurst. He’ll help her win the hand of his American friend, if she’ll assist him with exacting revenge against her unwanted fiancé. But the price of the pact may just be their hearts.
Book 2 – Conspiring with a Rogue
In order to save the man she loves from the enemy bent on destroying her, Lady Whitney Rutherford sheds her identity and escapes her past, making a new life for herself as Mr. Roger Wentworth, missing person locator extraordinaire. But when Whitney’s best friend from her old life comes up missing and there is every indication the girl was taken by the debauched members of a secret club, Whitney dons a new disguise and infiltrates the club, determined to unravel the mystery and save her friend. She never expects to encounter Drake Sutherland―the man who still has her heart. In the dark world of pleasure and sin, Whitney must play a dangerous game and one wrong move could mean the death of her friend or the destruction of the man she loves.
Book 3 – Dancing with a Devil
A Lord Chained To His Past…
Lord Trent Rutherford’s past has left him guarded, jaded and perfectly content to spend the rest of his life moving from one meaningless affair to the next. Until he meets Lady Audrey Cringlewood, an innocent beauty who makes him question everything he believes. His devilish demeanor guards more than a wounded heart. Behind his swagger lie secrets he’d rather forget than face, but the price of forgetting may be his second chance at life.
A Lady Determined To Shape Her Future…
Audrey Cringlewood longs to marry for love, not convenience. After several months of flirtatious banter, secret smiles and three very unforgettable kisses, Trent Rutherford, the rake known as Sin, proves himself the man of her dreams. Audrey suspects she understands the pain he hides behind his devil may care attitude, but when the truth comes to light, is her love enough to heal all wounds or will the secrets Trent guarded so carefully tear them apart forever?
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This is a trio of well-written entertaining stories with mystery, scandal, blackmail, secrets, somewhat uncommon courtships, and a few suruprises. The main characters include two spunky sisters and their cousin and the people who make their hearts beat faster. The stories are fun to read. There are a few twists and turns and a fitting comeuppance for each of the villains.
In Bargaining with a Rake Alexander Trevelle, Lord Lionhurst agrees to help Gillian Rutherford win the heart of his business partner and prevent her marriage to a vile scoundrel who threatens her family. This might not be easy and may not go as planned.
Conspiring with a Rogue features Whitney Rutherford and Drake Sutherland, who she has left because the blackmailer (yes there is another) is now threatening to ruin him. Hiding in plain sight disguise as Roger Wentworth, Private Eye, Whitney leads a merry chase around London with Drake and her cousin Alex hot on her heals. Lots of action and adventure here, an interesting story.
Dancing with a Devil is about Lord Trent Rutherford who loves (he just doesn’t know it yet) and wishes to marry Lady Audrey Cringlewood, Whitney’s friend. Audrey wants a love match. Alex is so weighed down with secrets and pain from his past, that he feels he cannot offer love. They have a problem, and it gets even bigger when his past, including a wife he though dead, springs up. When he returns from France to explain and beg Audrey’s forgiveness, he learns he has competition. She agrees to let both gentlemen court her. The courtship completion is fun and entertaining. Will Alex be able to win her back? Here is where one of the surprises comes in. It’s a good one; you’ll like it.
I already had these books when the set came out. I re-read them and enjoyed them as much as I did the first time. I recommend this terrific trio of Regency Romances.
I loved this entire set about a Rake, a Rogue and a lucious cousin. They make up the first three whisper of Scandal regency romance series by Julie Johnstone. Book 1: Bargaining With a Rake is Alex and Gillian’s story. Desperate to save her sister from a dark, dreadful secret, she plans to flee London with her sister, as the bride of a wealthy American shipping tycoon. She concocts a plan with Alexander Travelle, Lord Lionhurst, the Americans friend and business partner. Alex agrees to help her but their mutual attraction keeps causing havoc for their plan. It is a very good read and extremely enjoyable. It was easy to turn one page after the other.
Book 2: Conspiring With a Rogue. This book takes off where the first one finishes. It is Whitney and Drakes story. There are many secrets in this book. Whitney has donned disguises and is being threatened by an enemy with threatens to destroy her fiancé and his business. She decides to leave him broken-hearted but safe from harm. It is a very sweet story with laughter and heartache. It is a very well written story with in depth characters and secondary characters. I just love all of Mrs Johnstones books.
Book 3: Dancing With a Devil. This is Trent and Audrey’s story. Trent, Lord Rutherford, cousin to Gillian and Whitney, a secondary character from the previous books. Audrey , grew up with a mean, cold-hearted father and a drunkard for a brother. Trent has a heart that has been hardened by betrayal. Somehow Trent takes on the role of protector for Audrey. Love blooms in the strangest places. This story was about learning to trust again for both parties. I have tried to pick one story as my favorite, but I honestly can’t. I love each one equally. I was gifted this box-set and am voluntarily reviewing. I give this set five stars and heartily recommend it and all of this authors books.
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I had read the first book last year and was so excited to read the next two books in the series. The books were well written and easy to read. I enjoyed reading about the characters through the three books. There was mystery, drama, romance and adventures in the books. Reading the first three books certainly made me curious about the rest of the series. I will definitely have to read the rest of the books in the series!
I love historical romance stories. When it comes to historical romance stories I really love this author. I have to say that this 3 book series was so good! It had everything that I look for in a romance novel: Emotion, drama, action, steamy romance along with a nice blend of humor. All of the stories are very-well written, move at a really nice pace and they will definitely hold your interest right up until the end as they are not boring in any way. The characters are wonderful and I really like that you see them throughout the entire series. It made everything feel so connected. I just cannot say enough good things about this series. If you are looking for a really great historical series then you have found it! Absolutely loved it!
Excellent saucy read from Julie Johnston. Settle in for pages of sinfully sexy scoundrels and the ladies who steal their hearts. You will be hooked and be bound to keep turning the pages as you anticipate where you will embark with these bold characters on their wild adventures. As usual the author does not disappoint with her vibrant and saucy ladies bent on bringing their men to his knees.
Last year I read and reviewed Bargaining with a Rake, the first offering in Julie Johnstone’s A Whisper of Scandal series. When I was recently offered a chance to read and review an ARC of a boxed set of the first three books in the series, I jumped at the chance. I offer the following voluntary review of the boxed set and any opinions expressed are completely my own.
Book 1, Bargaining with a Rake, was a very enjoyable story with strong characters. From the beginning, there is obvious sexual chemistry between Gillian and Alex our main characters. Because of threats to her family and sister, Gillian is determined that the only way to protect her sister is to get a proposal from Alex’s American business partner and take her sister with her to America. Though Alex would rather seduce Gillian, he agrees to help her in getting her proposal from Drake. There is plenty of mystery, secrets, revenge, blackmail and nasty villains. There are lots of engaging supporting characters and a delightful Aunt who all enhance the story going on. Julie Johnstone has provided a great lead-in to what portends to be a charming Whisper of Scandal series. This work is my favorite of the three.
Book 2, Conspiring with a Rogue, takes up where Bargaining with a Rake ends. Drake Sutherland, a secondary character and business partner of Alex in book 1, had become acquainted with Whitney, the sister of Gillian. By the end of Bargaining with a Rake, it was obvious Drake and Whitney had developed an attraction for one another. In Conspiring with a Rogue, Whitney ends up facing her own unknown enemy who threatens to reveal her secret, similar to the experience her sister had in book 1. Said enemy also threatens to ruin Drake Sutherland and his business endeavors. To save the man she loves as well as keep her sister and brother-in-law safe from any additional rumor-mongering, she disappears. What commences is an enjoyable tale of a fanciful imposter of a missing person finder, a mystery involving the disappearance of an old friend, surprising new friends, thoroughly vile villains, sultry disguises, and a very lovelorn hero. This one was a great, fun, read and actually the most romantic.
Book 3, Dancing with a Devil focuses on Trent, Lord Rutherford, the sinfully delicious cousin of Gillian and Whitney. Trent was a secondary character in the previous two works and this offering extends the relationship that he started to develop in book 2 with Audrey, Lady Cringlewood, the faux betrothed of the imposter missing person finder. Trent is a man with many secrets hidden behind the jaded front he presents. Audrey contends with a cold-hearted father and a drunken brother who goes missing, so it’s no surprise Trent ends up acting more or less as her protector. Surprisingly there are some humorous moments in their story. She was the person that Trent needed to heal his heart and to share his secrets.
Though this is a boxed set, each of these is a stand-alone work and not necessary to read in order, though reading may be enhanced because many of the characters are in the other works. Overall, it is a very enjoyable set and would rate it 4.5 stars.
I was unable to put down the book! I fall in loved with all the characters!
Book 1 Bargaining with a Rake: Gillian Rutherford is desperate to get out of England. She is getting hateful mail threatening to expose her and her sister Whitney’s secret. The problem? Whitney isn’t aware she has a secret. That is why Gillian needs to get her out of England before she becomes aware of it. Her plan, seduce and marry Drake Sutherland. American captain and ship owner ( who is actually all for it, he wants a beautiful proper wife). Perfect plan, until she runs into Alexander Trevelle, Lord Lionhurst! Attractive, devilish and quite charming. Also Drake’s business partner. She and Alex share an attraction, yet Alex admits NEVER will he marry. So he agrees to help Gillian and works very hard to get her what she wants. Alex tries and so does Gillian but Gillian soon realizes she is in love with Alex and Alex is in love with Gilllian…Drake again, he just wants a beautiful wife…kind of feel sorry for the guy. The End right…wrong. True Julie fashion both Alex and Gillian must earn their HEA. Between blackmail, betrayal, murder, threats of all kind, Alex and Gillian overcome to get their HEA!
Book 2 Conspiring with a Rogue: Whitney (Gillian’s sister) is now aware of her “Secret” knows she is gossiped about within the Ton! She doesn’t really care but she doesn’t want wind of the gossip to hit Gillian…Gillian is about to leave on her yearlong honeymoon. While they are at some parties Drake Sutherland arrives. They both are quite smitten and do not hide it. Their love and plans move rather quickly but then wham, another Julie twist. A blackmailer from the Rutherford past threatens Drake. Whitney must go into hiding and never return. She does that to save Drake’s business and to live on her own she creates a persona like no other. Mr Wentworth…yes a man! She does some strange things not really matching her original personality. She has new friends that are quite lively! One even convinces “Mr Wentworth” to an engagement so she gets her father off her case! When an old friend goes missing Mr Wentworth goes full blown detective…along with her sidekicks. What she doesn’t expect is coming face to face with Drake and her cousin Sin (Trent)…Digging deeper into her friends now kidnapping Whitney must take on another persona…woman of the evening! Who is her first customer…none other than Drake…it just gets better and better when they all work together to find the lost friend…and thwarting a blackmailer is even sweeter!!!
Book 3 Dancing with a Devil: We meet up with Trent Rutherford (Gillian and Whitney’s cousin also known as SIN) and Lady Audrey Cringlewood…Lady Audrey was also Whitney’s former betroth…yes betroth, only she was engaged to “Mr. Wentworth”! Audrey has a horrible father who wants to be rid of her and a brother who is always drunk. Half the time he is her chaperone. She is determined to find her own man, one who will accept her free thinking and growing education!!! Trent home from the war is very different from who he once was. He was married to a French spy who got him thrown into prison! He didn’t know she was a spy and thought she was died. He is determined to be just friends with Audrey but his attraction makes it difficult. Audrey’s father forces one suitor after another and Trent steps up and decides to watch over her. Things of course get worse and more complicated when ghosts of the past make appearances. Again, the hero and heroine must jump through a few hoops to get to their different…but HEA
This trilogy has all the things I like in a good read. It has mystery, romance, a headstrong heroines, charming heroes, and nasty villains. I loved being able to read this family`s (2 sisters and their cousin) stories, one after the other. Each book builds on the last. I hope there are more books featuring some of the secondary characters. I am not ready to let go just yet. I have mainly read this author’s Highland stories, but really enjoyed these Regency Era tales.
Book one: Bargaining with a Rake
Lady Gillian has a secret, one that affects her beloved sister. It has to do with their mother`s death and Whitney`s part in it. Unfortunately, someone else also knows the secret and is not above blackmail. In order to save her sister, Gillian plans on getting the American, Drake Sutherland to propose to her and take Whitney and her out of the country. Instead she finds herself attracted to Alex, Lord Lionhurst, Drake`s best friend and business partner. Much to her chagrin, her father betrothed her to the villain of the story. How will she ever get herself out of this dilemma? Just what is the story behind Alex`s brother’s suicide and his part in it? Will Gillian and Alex be able to admit their mutual feelings? Or will the dastardly villain win? Good read!
Book two: Conspiring with a Rogue
What would you do to protect the person you love? Would you be able to leave him in order to protect him? This is exactly what Whitney did, she disappeared. Unfortunately, living as her alter ego, a male investigator pulls her back into his life. First she is hired by her best friend’s father to find his daughter. Then she comes face to face with her love. Does he realize her? If he does what will he do? This was my favorite of the three books in the trilogy. It is one of those books that you don’t want to put down, but read beginning to end at one sitting.
Book 3 – Dancing with a Devil
When Trent, Lord Rutherford met Audrey, Lady Cringlewood, they both felt the attraction. As they got to spend more time together, the attraction grow to something more, but is it one-sided? What are the secrets that has caused Trent (Sin to his cousin, Whitney) to close his heart. Will he ever reveal just what happened to him in France. As with the other books in the series, this is a very good read. It keeps the reader’s interest from beginning to end.