Four years ago, Lady Cecelia Campbell fell head over heels in love with Lord Rupert Marlowe, the young Earl of Stanhope. Everybody knew they would marry and live happily ever after.But then Rupert did the unthinkable. He enlisted as an officer in the army and left England for a post in South Africa. Cecelia was left alone in England, loving, yearning, and worrying about him from a distance. Now … a distance.
Now Rupert has returned. He is ready to take up his seat in the House of Lords, to assume the administration of the Stanhope estate from his mother, Lady Katya, and most importantly of all, to finally marry Cecelia.
Cece isn’t the same woman Rupert left behind, however. She has grown and flourished and become a woman of strength and opinion. And she’s not going to sit back and let Rupert get away with leaving her for so long.
But when Cece takes a stand and declares her independence in a very public way, the scandal her defiance causes blows every expectation for her future happiness with Rupert to smithereens. It also gains her an exclusive invitation to join the elite group of politically-minded women known as the May Flowers. But the May Flowers are a group of shocking, defiant, sometimes wicked women. They are a bundle of scandals waiting to happen.
Can Rupert convince the new, more powerful Cecelia to forgive him for abandoning her, and can he woo her all over again? Will the scandal of their break-up tear them apart forever, or will it make their love stronger…and hotter?
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Steam level – very spicy!
THE MAY FLOWERS series is a continuation of THE SILVER FOXES OF WESTMINSTER series, involving the younger generation. It consists of:
A LADY’S FIRST SCANDAL
IT’S ONLY A SCANDAL IF YOU’RE CAUGHT
THE SCANDAL OF A PERFECT KISS
THE EARL’S SCANDALOUS BARGAIN
THE ROAD TO SCANDAL IS PAVED WITH WICKED INTENTIONS
WHEN LADY INNOCENCE MET DR. SCANDAL
more
A Lady’s First Scandal was such an entertaining and great first in a series. I did have read only one book from the previous series but I did not felt lost, this one stands alone.
It was so interesting to see how some women tried to take their future in their own hands, not an easy task but with patience, even if it required a painstaking work and to often start all over again.
The main characters were so fun to see interacting together, time apart changed them, but never Lord Rupert Marlowe did expected the sweet and kind young woman he left behind to become this stunning and well spoken lady who begins to know what she really wants in life and love, and it is not just to wait for him at home and bear his child.
Lady Cecelia Campbell’s patience has worn thin when her soon-to-be-betrothed upon his return to London, after four years of absence, prefers to gloat about his life and his exploits on the battlefields and outside and spend time with his former comrades.
So in a fit of temper, she shows him she is no more a young girl out for her first ball, she knows what she desires and it is no more to wait for him than to just attend party after party.
They are both compassionate and clever characters, they just need to get reacquainted without infuriating the other. Never they doubt another’s feelings but life went on and they must accept the changes together.
It was at time funny, sweet or steamy plus watching Rupert fall all over again in love with Cecelia was so fulfilling.
I was an able to put this book down until very late last evening or early this morning, which is not good when you rise before the sun to work.
The story mixed perfectly both points of view with the meetings between the May Flower but also Rupert’s group of friends. The plot found its right path smoothly and nothing felt rushed, I loved hating the vilains, I hurt for some of the characters and cheered when it was the time.
I’m now curious about the next story in this series and even if it is not for now, my heart aches for Fergus and I do hope to see more of him in the future.
A blissful homecoming and reunion. After four years the man Lady Cecelia loves beyond anything has returned from from the war. Wonderful you say? Not! Lord Rupert Marlowe loves Cece and missed her desperately, but he had lifelong friends he had made and really gave more attention to them than her. Grrr. I just wanted to reach in the book and shake him! Of course it hurts her feelings and that set off and adventure Rupert will have to take to get her attention back!!
A wonderful start to a new series by Merry Farmer! I love these two but also the strong secondary characters of Cece’s family and Rupert’s sisters, especially Bianca!
Prepare to start reading and not stop as Cece finds her independence and gets an inviation to join the exclusive May Flowers! There is no telling what will happen and see if Rupert can redeem himself and get Cece back!!
I cannot wait for more in the series!!
The very best in Victorian romance!
Cece is a rare breed, a strong-willed woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and what she believes. Her intended, Rupert, has his work cut out for him as he adjusts his expectations in order to be the man Cece needs him to be. Their story is intense, sexy, and wildly enlightening.
This author brings a taste of social consciousness to her stories, giving her characters a depth that is rarely found in most romances. I loved the May Flowers, how they are paving their own roads through society and how they interact with and support each other through thick and thin. The extended cast of characters is familiar to those who have read the author’s Silver Foxes series, and I really enjoy the way she has spun off the younger generation into their own series of standalones.
The writing is sublime and flows easily as it carries the reader effortlessly along on an amazing and thought-provoking adventure. I highly recommend this book as well as those in the Silver Foxes series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Nice start to a new series. Disappointed Rupert does not greet her after his 4-year absence in the romantic manner she imagined, Cece turns a cold shoulder, punishing herself as well. Rupert is confused and his friends’ attempt to advise him are humorous. All the while there is the inner fighting among the May Flowers, which is somewhat predictable. Unusual is the background of the political fight over Irish home rule and some serious – and unexpected – repercussions for some characters.
I read an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cece and Rupert have been apart four long years. When he returns he acts aloof toward Cece. She has had enough and he will feel the wrath of her displeasure. The game has begun and Cece wants to be the one in control and Rupert will have to let her. I loved the Mayflowers, they were like a roller derby without the skates and body checks. It was interesting how the cause of the Irish having independence causes a divide between the Mayflower ladies and parliament.