Four Previously Published Novellas, Collected for the First TimeDesperately Seeking ScandalLady Ada Ellis has been hiding in Berkshire since a scandal rag published secrets that led to her public jilting. When charming reporter Colin Goddard comes calling for a new story, Ada suggests a fake relationship to fool her detractors…but she might lose everything, including her heart.The Prodigal Duke… heart.
The Prodigal Duke
Leo Billingsley never expected to inherit the Westfair dukedom. Poppy Hayworth never expected to become a tightrope walker. When these childhood sweethearts find each other anew, will they rediscover love—or be parted by secrets?
My Scandalous Duke
Practical young widow Lady Eleanor Palmer wants a family of her own—and after a disastrous first marriage, she requires a proper husband. Unless her lifelong friend, the roguish Duke of Hampshire, can convince her he’s everything she truly desires…
Those Autumn Nights
Ten years ago, wealthy Eliza Greenleaf broke lowly soldier Bertram Gage’s heart. Now that he’s made his mark on the world, will this war-hardened officer seek revenge…or give love a second chance?
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All five-star reads; it doesn’t get any better than this!
DESPERATELY SEEKING SCANDAL
“The first person to kiss you on the path by the light of the full moon is your true love.”
Lady Ada Ellis knew someone had been following her, probably another reporter who had been pestering her family. Colin Goddard is indeed a reporter, Ada is able to strike a bargain with the handsome rogue, but will it remain a business deal?
DESPERATELY SEEKING SCANDAL is one of those charming novellas that Theresa Romain writes so well. Within the constraints of the format, the author tells a complete story, even providing her characters with solid backstories. Ada, Colin, and Samuel – Colin’s brother – are all flawed, and wonderfully human: Colin is a tad flippant, Ada of the steel backbone and self-doubts, and the absolutely lovely Samuel – who, I hope, will have his story one day. DESPERATELY SEEKING SCANDAL is about being true to yourself and doing what is and feels right, while taking a look at society gossip. I loved all the period details about the small publishing house, and the inevitable horses; it is also a story about words and secrets.
The romance between Colin and Ada is exquisite, the dialogues witty, and the prose luminous. DESPERATELY SEEKING SCANDAL is a delectable indulgence, as comforting and sweet as the caramels Ada and Colin enjoy so much.
THE PRODIGAL DUKE
Leo Billingsley comes from trade, the black sheep of the family, is now the Duke of Westfair, courtesy of his elder brother who had the bad taste to die. Leo sees his long-time friend and his first love, Poppy Hayworth, at Vauxhall Gardens; she is now a tightrope walker. Even after not having spoken to Poppy for six years – Leo was abroad – he still trusts her, and he asks her to agree to a pretend engagement. He needs to convince his uncle to listen to him, but the cantankerous Uncle Bernard, Ubie, likes Poppy better. Poppy had planned one season at Vauxhall to earn enough money to start anew in France, and when Leo offers her money for his crazy idea, she accepts. It can’t be so bad, as long as her secret remains so.
Theresa Romain certainly did her homework on ropewalking, something I knew nothing about, and the author made it quite exciting, even if I felt a bit like Leo! Leo is a charming rogue, he is so nice that Poppy doesn’t even bear a grudge for what he did six years before, and it was for a good cause. Poppy’s backstory is heartbreaking, but she has a backbone of steel, and they do make a most wonderful couple. The ever delightful Theresa Romain spins a tale so touching, and characters so endearing that I was hurting for them, and I embraced Leo and Poppy with open arms. Apart from the marvellous romance, Ms. Romain peppers her tale with some very witty dialogue, and some of the exchanges had me laughing out loud; Leo has quite a sense of humour.
Ms. Romain paints such a vivid picture of the masquerade and the Vauxhall Gardens that it made me wonder if the author was a time-traveller! All kidding aside, THE PRODIGAL DUKE is a concentrated novel, it never felt like a novella: the characters display unusual depth; there’s the precarious relationship between Leo and Ubie as well as lovely moments, scary moments, a revolting villain, and O my, the romance! What a perfectly wonderful romance it is!
MY SCANDALOUS DUKE
Lady Eleanor – Ellie – Palmer had been living at her brother Sidney’s for a few years, since she became a widow, but with the arrival of Sidney’s first child, Ellie feels it’s time to move on. She does want to marry again, but to someone proper, not like her late husband, the dashing wastrel Adrian Palmer. Ellie dreams of someone who will love and respect her. Sidney and Ellie have been friends with Nicholas Langford, the Duke of Hampshire, since they were children, and Nicholas proposes that Ellie stay at his mother’s estate while she is away for the Season, which seems ideal to Ellie: it will make it easier for her to find a husband. Nick is wife-hunting, he’s merely looking for a woman who will provide him with heirs and let him be. Things are going according to plan for both Ellie and Nick until a very unusual event changes everything.
And that unusual event is brilliant, and one I don’t recall ever having seen before. Nick is one of the most complex characters I have ever seen: he takes his duties that come with his title very seriously, he’s extremely meticulous and orderly, and still a bit of a rogue. He’s also very playful, and sometimes a bit too impetuous for the good of those around him; he doesn’t always think before he acts. Ellie has always loved Nick, he’s the reason why she had married Palmer, and even if she still sees Nick as a friend, she’s not going to make the same mistake twice; Nick is too much like her late husband. Ellie is a lovely character, and Ms. Romain conveys beautifully the melancholy that lingers in Ellie’s heart, which is not always apparent to everyone. It was so easy to identify with her; through the sunny, witty banter she engaged with Nick, there remained a touch of resignation and sadness to her.
Theresa Romain’s prose is as light and shimmering as butterfly wings, MY SCANDALOUS DUKE is all delicate pastels, and gorgeously written. I have loved every book of Ms. Romain’s because of her refined touch, her clever dialogues, her understanding of the affairs of the heart, and her touching and beautifully human characters. And the ending is simply glorious! MY SCANDALOUS DUKE is another splendid book by the incomparable Theresa Romain.
THOSE AUTUMN NIGHTS
HOSE AUTUMN NIGHTS by Theresa Romain relates how Bertram Gage and Eliza Greenleaf, who were once lovers, are reunited ten years later. Bertie and Eliza are simply sublime, and Florian, the French butler, is an outstanding secondary character. Ms. Romain’s prose is luminous and very eloquent, making everything comes to life before our very eyes. It’s a wonderful story tinged with melancholy, where shadows give way to light, and hope replaces regrets, showing that love can be as fragile as a dry leaf.
i got this book because I was in the mood for shorter stories. I really couldn’t get that interested in any of them. In a short story the characters have to grab you quickly and none of the ones on these did. They were somewhat cardboard. I don’t know if it was the writing or just that the plot lines were very thin.
Badly written.