With Love and Other Scandals, bestselling and RITA Award–winning author Caroline Linden launches a scandalously sexy new historical romance series set in Regency England. Joan Bennett is a breath away from being a spinster. She’s had four seasons without a suitor. After reading a shockingly sensuous book, Fifty Ways to Sin, Joan decides perhaps it’s time to stop being proper and start being … proper and start being sinful, while she’s still young enough to enjoy it. And what better partner than her brother’s drinking mate, Viscount Burke? He seems the type to know how to give a lady a lascivious adventure.
It seems that the viscount has qualms about trifling with a friend’s sister. That’s the way to end up betrothed. And he doesn’t want that—or does he?
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I had a bad beginning with my first read by Mrs Caroline Linden, despite I had two other pieces of her work lined on my kindle shelves but it was this book that won me back to her talent.
I got an email notice that it was discounted for some time being, but it never works for me as I’m not in the US, but the blurb caught my eyes, and I purchased it.
And I’m so glad.
I so loved Joan and Tristan, they come from so different backgrounds, she with a very loving family and he all alone with nobody to care for him.
It was sweet to see them evolve from enemies to friends then lovers. There is no angst in this read, only two peoples who slowly get to know another and are able to see past the facade of the other.
Joan tries to fit in the mold her mother wants for her, but she is too tall, too curvy, too nosy with an inquisitive tongue and rather bold if society would permit it. Alas as a woman she knows perfectly where is her place, but in her own way, she tries to bend the rules a little bit.
Tristan Burke is running wild since his childhood, it was how he first meet Joan, since he improved a little his untamed behavior with some society polish. It was great to see him refusing to bow to his awful aunt bidding. Why he is rather bewildered when she barges in her brother’s house and gives him a tongue lashing. It’s being long since a woman spiked his interest.
Follows a game of cat and mouse, and the mouse is not always the woman.
I adored how the author brought them together, it was perfectly crafted and without themselves realizing it, they were unable to think of erasing the other from their life, needing each other, Joan quieting Tristan’s recklessness while he reveals her true self.
Even if Joan at first appeared as quite afraid to stand against her mother, thanks to her time apart, she will be able to handle her and show her who she really is and even win her mother’s approval.
I also loved Joan’s aunt, Evangeline, she is extravagant in her own way, not letting fashion dictates what she must wear and also tutoring Joan to be herself and permitting her more freedom to explore what she may want for herself. I do hope she will find her own happily ever after.
It was a wonderful read full of wits, with some romantic scenes and others more spicy.
Nice story, no convoluted twists or angst. Just a pleasant romantic tale. Enjoyed it.
Love and Other Scandals was much better than I anticipated. Since it was a little silly at the beginning I was wary. However Caroline Linden’s writing skills drew me through chapter after chapter and I was eager to continue reading. There was laugh out loud humor, strife, lust and memorable secondary characters. The main characters evolved throughout the book and were fully developed. They started out as totally unsuitable for each other and then a slow burn developed into love. I highly recommend this book.