After a youthful infatuation went terribly wrong, Lady Samantha Lennox gave up all thought of suitors and happily-ever-after. But when she angers her strict and demanding father, the Earl of Stratford, he retaliates by arranging a marriage for her to a man she could never admire, much less love. In a panic, Samantha flees to London, only to find herself lost, alone, and nearly kidnapped—until an … an unlikely hero saves her.
Lord George Churchill-Gray is an artist, not a knight in shining armor, but he doesn’t hesitate to rescue Samantha from disaster and offer her temporary sanctuary. He wouldn’t mind if she repaid him by modeling for his latest painting. He’s enchanted by her face… her smile… all of her, really. But with every study he sketches, he falls a little more in love with her, and Samantha begins to suspect her scandalous actions might lead to the sort of love she never thought to find…
“Sweet and fun and fluffy in all the right ways!” –AllAboutRomance.com
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This novella connects two of Caroline Linden’s series. However, I am at least a decade behind in my TBR pile and have not read a single book from either series. (A matter I hope to rectify sooner rather than later.)
The book is a wonderful read and you don’t realize there are other stories in the series until you read the two epilogues at the end.
I highly recommend this story, especially if you have time constraints.
After 7 years of keeping her secret, Lady Samantha Lennox is finally going to confess to her father that it was her and not Sebastian Vale that stole the money from him. The Earl of Stratford is a cold, ruthless man with an obsession for perfection, his family is terrified of him. But Samantha will not be the reason that Sebastian cannot marry the love of his life. Her father takes the news oddly well and does not rage or punish her, when a few days pass with no repercussions, she thinks that maybe she got lucky. But the morning of the third day she learns that that was wishful thinking, the earl says that he has decided that she should marry and has decided on Lord Phillip, the second son of the Marquess of Dorre – a cruel, debauched and brutal man. Even her mother is horrified and tries to intervene – a rarity – but her father has decided and expects Samantha to obey.
Samantha runs away to London, thinking her brother will help her – but when she arrives, she is almost kidnapped and then pushed into the river – if not for the quick actions of a stranger, she would have died.
Lord George Churchill-Gray, Gray to his friends is a younger son of the Duke of Rowlands and an up and coming artist. He is on his way to buy some pigments, when he sees Samantha – he is drawn to her, but keeps walking, when he turns for one last look, he realizes she is in distress and goes to help. When one of the men drags her away, he acts and gives chase – only to find her in the river. He saves her and she says she can’t remember who she is. He takes her back to his rented rooms and hands her over the care of his landlady. He doesn’t really believe she has amnesia, but still feels protective of her. When he offers help, she says she must go home. He takes her to the coaching inn the next day, but when she sees her father, she runs again. Gray again offers to help and she gives him the barest of details and only tells him her first name. He brings her back to the house and they settle into a routine and form a friendship.
Soon, Samantha wants more and thanks to the maid Jenny, she knows what she wants thanks to the 50 ways to sin pamphlets that Jenny has loaned her. When Gray’s art is selected for the Royal Academy’s exhibit and he takes her to a private viewing, they go to a pub afterwards to celebrate. She dances and drinks and then boldly tells Gray that she wants him. They make love and Gray forms a new plan – a plan to keep Samantha with him always. But when her father finally finds her, will he force her to marry Lord Phillip and ruin Gray or will true love win the day??
This was an absolutely delightful novella, well written and paced perfectly. I loved Samantha and Gray and believed they were in love. The secondary characters are wonderful, the love scenes warm, the interaction between Samantha and Gray is sweet and the ending is perfect. This is part of the Scandals Series, but it could be read as a stand alone title – although, fair warning once you read this, you are going to want to read the other books!!
This one was short and sweet. There wasn’t any angst between the couple, all of the conflict was from the heroine’s father, which is always my preference. I did think the conflict’s resolution was a little too vague (it wasn’t clear what power the hero’s father had over the heroine’s father to convince him to allow their union). While I typically prefer a longer story just so the story can evolve a little more, this was really cute, had well-developed main characters, and a dash of sexy time.
I voluntairly read and reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Study In Scandal, by Caroline Linden, is part of the Scandalous book series. As a novella it’s book 3.5, I’ve also now found it listed as book 6. Having never read any of the Scandalous series I went into this prepared for a standalone story. As it turns out, it works both ways. Originally published in 2016, I found it to be just as fresh as a tale from 2019. I caught a whiff of Snow White woven into this story. I’ve always liked Snow, for the most part she saved herself. I didn’t find a love-to-hate character so it left me 100% on our couples side. They’re so cute together!
Our heroine is Lady Samantha Lennox, downtrodden daughter of an Earl. I percieved the Earl to be a monster, wouldn’t have cried if he fell off his horse. As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and that’s how Samantha landed in this pickle. Everyone in the family does what they’re told but it becomes too much, marry a monster? No. Our girl get up the gumption to run away, wants to find her brother, and finds adventure and love instead.
Lord George Churchill-Gray is not only the son of a Duke but he’s an accomplished painter. Pretty content with his life, on the way to making it in the art world. When he rescues a damsil in destress he’s facinated, she becomes his muse, and he’s gone to love land quickly. He’s a good guy, easy-going, has a terrific sense of honor, and isn’t afraid of his feelings. I liked him right away.
A Happily Ever After was written in the stars for these two lovebirds. Everything works out and Samantha a Grey are very grateful. If this was a game of poker, Duke beats Earl everytime. Happy reading.
#CarolineLinden #AStudyInScandal #Scandalous
I will re-read this novella, and I will recommend it to others.
I am not often a fan of novellas, to me they are often badly paced, the characters poorly fleshed out, and you are usually left with a sense of either an unfinished story, or a story that never really realised its potential.
A Study in Scandal was none of those things however, as it focussed instead on conveying feeling, heightening anxiety and dread at the heroines predicament through the course of the story towards the inevitable confrontation making you feel like you had things at stake too. Filled with colourful characters, the moody artist, the villains on the street, the maid with the naughty pamphlets and the shameless exploiter of money landlady this story is far more than a man meets woman, or damsel in distress trope, and Its fantastic because of it.
All in all a well written, well-rounded out story with a satisfactory ending that leaves you with a feel good feeling and a smile.
p.s. all the art doesn’t hurt either. Neither did the Skunk.
The h is being forced by her father into marriage with a very cruel and evil man. She runs away and is almost kidnapped in London and was saved by the H who was an artist painter and the second son of a very powerful but kind and loving duke. He offers her sanctuary in his bedroom which he rents and he sleeps in his studio adjacent to it. They get to know each other , fall in love and become intimate. The h’s father finds her in the boarding room of the H and forces her to go home with him. The H asks the help of his powerful father to force the Earl to free his daughter from the negotiated marriage he made for his daughter and marry the H instead.
It was on its way to being fine but quickly derailed. When I saw “50 ways to Sin,” my eyes rolled so far back into my head I’m surprised I’m conscious. Sam is a non-entity. A real Mary-Jane that can’t help but get her self into more trouble. She has no passion or interest, and has never been allowed either. It makes a good case for a woman living with an emotionally abusive man, but bad heroine material. Someone who had found a passion and pursued it in secret would have showed someone with an unbroken spirit. I like the harlot scene, but then she ruined it by going all spineless again. George is alright but not my type of people. Good for a girl who has been broken, but kind of bland for, me, a woman who prefers dominant quick-wits. Hated the 50 shades reference, lots of tell and very little show, the plotlines from other books didn’t intrigue so much as bore me, and the nice bow wrapped end lacked juice. Its hoping for French wine and getting Almack’s punch.
A sweet, sensitive book.
Art and romance always make for a great tale. Very entertaining novella with an almost impossible situation that evolves to the best of ends. The characters are well depicted and the atmosphere is vivid. A well written story that holds the attention.
To Fight For A Forever Love
Lady Samantha Lennox never intended to run away. Honestly, it just sort of happened. What occurred next is the plot of A Study in Scandal by Caroline Linden.
Surprisingly this enjoyable little stand-alone novella packs a whopper of a romantic love story. The author did a very good job of defining characters and weaving a tight story. I really liked Samantha and Gray, especially when they each fought back. I was also pleasantly surprised by the satisfying happy ending that included an epilogue and a bonus epilogue.
Content alert; Although there are no vulgarities in this book, there is a moderately descriptive sexually intimate scene. There is also some described and implied physical and mental abuse.
An excellent addition to the Scandalous series by Caroline Linden. I loved George. He might not have thought himself a hero, but he was the hero she needed.
This was a fun day to read book with characters you’ll root for or find despicable.
A Study In Scandal is a fantastic historical romance by Caroline Linden. Ms. Linden has provided readers with a well-written book and furnished it with outstanding characters. This is a fairly quick read, perfect for those with limited reading time. Samantha fears her father but after 7 years she tells him she stole from him and let him believe the neighbor did it all that time. Her punishment is to wed a man she fears even more than her father, so she runs away. George is an artist and jumps into the river to save Samantha. Samantha and George’s story is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle, action and suspense. I enjoyed reading A Study In Scandal and look forward to reading more from Caroline Linden in the future. A Study In Scandal is book 6 of the Scandalous Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
Truly enjoyed it. I think it’s a great read.
I enjoyed the plot!
This was a short read, but I so appreciated that there was 2 Epilogues. Thank you. I enjoyed the characters and the story and the HEA.
I enjoyed the uncertainties for the main characters. Kept my interest throughout the entire book. Enjoyed it very much!
I love historical romance, especially Regency period. This one was one of the best. Highly recommend to read.
Stupid premise.
I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.