David Fleming, Hart Mackenzie’s right-hand man, seeks refuge with his vicar friend in Shropshire, only to find that the vicar’s beautiful niece, Sophie, is seeking refuge as well. Tongues are wagging all over London about Sophie, and she finds that the only gentleman sympathetic to her plight is the reprobate David.David and Sophie match wits as they help her uncle dig up the countryside … countryside searching for a villa from Roman Britain, and David decides to use his conniving ways to fix all Sophie’s problems. It’s the least he can do for the woman who has woken him out of the stupor in which he’s been living.
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As A ROGUE MEETS A SCANDALOUS LADY opens, the hero, David Fleming is acting anything but heroic. He’s more than three sheets to the wind and involved in a duel with a gentleman who’s convinced David has been dallying with his wife. In this instance, David is innocent of everything but a mild flirtation, but the situation escalates to such a point that charges are filed, and David is advised to leave town until things cool down. David flees to Shropshire to visit his long time friend, Lucas Pierson, a vicar with a passion for archaeology.
Also visiting the vicar is his niece, Lady Devonport, who is embroiled in a scandal through no fault of her own. Sophie has been unable to produce a child for her husband, the earl, and since her dowry has long been spent, he has decided to obtain a divorce, painting his innocent wife as a blatant adulteress. Unable to face society’s censure due to her husband’s lies, Sophie chose to live quietly with her uncle until her future is decided.
David has indeed been a rogue. As best friend and right hand man to the powerful duke, Hart Mackenzie, he is very well versed in schemes, deals, intrigue, and scandal. He is able to tell right away that Sophie is innocent of her husband’s outrageous claims. As the days pass, and the alcohol leaves his system, David and Sophie work with Lucas on his quest to find some significant archaeological ruins. David becomes intrigued with his beautiful, but sad companion, while Sophie sees the kind and caring man beneath the outward roguish demeanor.
David once believed himself to be in love, but it never worked out, so he has since lived a dissipated life. What he feels now for Sophie is unlike anything he’s felt before, even that devastating first love. He’s determined to use his connections and all his cunning to save Sophie from the disastrous situation she’s in. He’ll see that she’s free to live the life she chooses, free of any scandal. Unfortunately, his own problems escalate, as it seems the earl he was dueling with is determined to see David thrown into jail. Ironically, Sophie is not above a little scheming of her own, and devises a plan to ensure that David is not imprisoned.
I could not believe how much I came to love David. As the layers of his personality were slowly peeled away, they revealed a man who believes himself to have no value, yet he cares deeply and does much good for others. His longing for Sophie is so poignant, and his love so strong, that he truly puts her happiness above everything else. He wants her to love him more than anything he’s ever wanted before, yet he’s sure she couldn’t possibly return his feelings. But he can’t help hoping….
Sophie is a delight, and a perfect match for David. She offers him love and acceptance, and doesn’t want to change him. She sees underneath to his true heart and brings him genuine happiness and a solution to his restlessness. And it seems that Sophie has a bit of a roguish side, too.
A ROGUE MEETS A SCANDALOUS LADY is a wonderful romance with characters I truly connected with. David’s insecurity was so poignant and intense, and it touched me deeply. The start to their happy ever after is so joyfully written that I was no doubt grinning from ear to ear. I always love to visit with the Mackenzie family, and Eleanor plays a significant role in this story. If you haven’t read any of the previous books, you can absolutely read A ROGUE MEETS A SCANDALOUS LADY as a standalone. (But if you haven’t read the previous books — WHY NOT?) I love the romance between this couple so much, and am still enjoying a fabulous book hangover a day later.
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-W4
David was definitely a rogue, and completely unapologetic about it. But as we get to know him, as Sophie gets to know him, the caring man he is is revealed. Not that he isn’t a formidable opponent, but his adversarial nature is at its’ worst when he is defending someone he cares about. Sophie is far from scandalous, but she is hiding while being maligned. Lucky for her, David’s association brings her into the MacKenzie and McBride realm, and they have her interests at heart.
Loved this story of two people who are happy with who they are, and never realized what more they could have, until they meet. A wonderful tale as they start out as opposites and come to realize how similar they are. We also get to touch base with others in the series, always a welcome treat!
Book: A Rogue Meets A Scandalous Lady
by Jennifer Ashley
Series: (Mackenzies & MacBrides) Book #11
Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook of
1. Tartan Book Reviews
2. Purple Tulip Book Reviews
3. Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews
4.Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog
Heat Rating: Hot
Overall Rating: 5 Stars/ 5 Kilts
1893
David Fleming is Hart MacKenzie, Duke of Kilmorgan’s best friend. Though he used to be in love with Eleanor (El) Ramsay, who is now the Duchess of Kilmorgan and Hart’s wife. Though that was eons ago, now he sees Hart and El are each other’s soulmates and couldn’t be happier for them. David never sees himself as the man he is, but the man he wishes he could be. He definitely has some self esteem and self worth issues. Unfortunately, now is in a drunken duel with a jealous husband, Oliver Griffin who accuses him of having an affair with his wife. Though his wife has cockolded her husband with plenty of other gentlemen, it has never been with David. Now got Griff’s stomach in a twisted knot! A man that David and Hart used to torment in school as young lads.
Unfortunately David is in trouble with the law, because of the duel and false accusations. As David was quite inebriated and never even pulled the trigger of his gun, yet false accusations are made. David arrives at his longtime, friend, and mentor, Vicar Lucas Pierson, whose parish. This is in the far corner of Stropshire. A good place to hide out, until this last duel nonsense blows over. It’s a place David always finds peace, when his life is in pieces or waiting for the latest scandal to blow over. Except he was shocked to find Lucas beautiful niece, Sophie Tierney who also needed sanctuary for very different reasons.
Sophie soon to be ex-husband is getting a divorce, a man only used her for her money or getting heirs. He went through her money with his extravagant lifestyle and she never achieved getting pregnant which he blamed completely her fault . Something she never achieved now he’s hired people to tell lies about her, saying she had affairs with them to ruin her and get an easy divorce. On grounds of adultety and in a very public forum. Yet it is he with a string of mistresses, he has found another rich widow he wants to marry for her money! Well when David sees this beautiful, kind woman he won’t have it . Plus he knows (Lackwit) Laurie Whitfield, the Earl of Devonport, a former classmate he and Hart used to torment. Now David feels the need to help a damsel in distress with the help of his dear friend El, the Duchess of Devonport. A wonderful photographer and matchmaker who can dictate to whom society will accept. As she has wanted a woman for David forever and after meeting Sophie she knows she’s the one! Of course Hart wishes his wife wouldn’t mettle, yet that just goes against her nature.
Even though Sophie is furious that David is putting his nose in her affairs, the two end up falling in love. Yet neither will act on it until Sophie is totally free. David loves that she is the first woman that is really interested in him for the right reasons. She doesn’t care about his physical looks or his money. Sophie cares for the man he is inside she knows he can be. Will David go to jail for attempted murder for dueling? Will Sophie be ruined with a scandalous divorce? Will these two ever get together or hide their feelings for ever?
Another breathtaking Mackenzie’s and MacBrides by Jennifer Ashley that I absolutely loved. This is the eleventh book I have read in this marvelous series. Another Ashley novel I could not put down! I love some of my favorite characters from the series made appearances in this book too. It felt like a mini reunion which I absolutely loved! I am a huge fan of this series and I don’t think that will ever change. As for Mr. David Fleming he is absolutely sweet, sexy and swoon worthy! A book readers definitely don’t want to miss!
This book is another fast paced, page turning, romantic riveting adventure that will have readers gasping with delight. It has multi dimensional characters, heart warming plots, amazing setting and awe inspiring dialogue. Plus it includes all the elements that historical romance readers love from duels, betrayal, scandals, heartbreak, mayhem, blackmail, murder, hatred and love.
A book I can’t recommend enough as Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie and MacBride series are always an extraordinary, phenomenal treat! A book readers don’t want to miss and I highly recommend!
You can read any of The Mackenzie novels as stand alone books too. Happy Reading!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy from the author. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog an advance copy of this book. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.
BUY LINKS:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07QJD9CM3?ref=aw_sitb_digital-text
https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1131170487?ean=2940161395462
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jennifer_Ashley_A_Rogue_Meets_a_Scandalous_Lady?id=0cyfDwAAQBAJ
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-rogue-meets-a-scandalous-lady
Jennifer has given these MacKenzies & McBrides huge hearts. I so love reading about this family. She is a master author and I am privileged to lend my voice to recommend her stories.
David Fleming is Duke Hart MacKenzie’s best friend and right-hand man for his mechanisitions in the world of politics and manipulating people. He thrives being a force in the House of Commons and is a schemer aiding his long time friend Hart. He even fell in love with Hart’s wife Eleanor, before she was Hart’s wife. He believes he is irredeemable, a bad, bad man. What he is is Hart’s equal without a title. We find him in this story at the bottom of a bottle having to hide out in Shropshire at the home of his mentor and friend, Dr. Lucas Pierson, the vicar there. David is accused of assault and attempted murder by hot-head Oliver Griffin refuses to let their feud go after a duel It was Oliver guilty of these things as David is innocent of the charges.
Sophie Tierney is also hiding from society in Shropshire with her uncle Lucas. She’s also known as Countess of Davenport, wife of Laurie Whitfield, who’s currently divorcing her on the grounds of adultery. He’s guilty of this not her. Lackwit Laurie has worked through her fortune she brought to the marriage and she produced no children so he now seeks to be rid of her so he can marry a wealthy widow.
I was so charmed by the witty and sarcastic dialogue in this book. Sophie is intelligent and keeps up with David once he sobers up. I also loved their hearts. David is a schemer and will do anything to help those he loves. His life is pretty much only that, helping those he cares about while putting himself down as he has no self worth. Sophie is so browbeaten and has no idea of her talents or what she wants in life. Together they bring out the best of each other, David blackmailing her husband into dropping the divorce in favor of an annulment, becoming Limp-wick Laurie. Thanks to Eleanor’s involvement in David’s schemes she helps Sophie convince Griffin into dropping the charge against David. He’s given the opportunity to fund Dr. Pierson’s dig and become the
Director of Excavations thus being taken seriously for his interest in antiquities. Turns out both David and Sophie are two of a kind, devious and manipulating for those they love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.