All Charlotte wanted was to avoid scandal. Instead, she was caught in the arms of a mysterious, handsome lord…and he’s not letting go.On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library.Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan? Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall? Perhaps the butler did it.All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But … Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville–the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.
But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit . . . and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.
Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?
more
This is my first foray into historical romance — the plot and title of this book were too intriguing to pass up, and I was not disappointed! I was immediately won over by Charlotte — she’s earnest, troublesome, inventive, and funny. Piers was a bit of a harder sell because so much time is spent describing his skill as an agent of the Crown, and yet those skills are almost entirely sidelined by Charlotte’s allure. HOWEVER, what he lacks in sexy espionage he makes up for in being very smoldering and Darcy-ish. I haven’t read any of Tessa’s Spindle Cove books, so if you have a recommendation for what I should read next of hers, please comment and help a lady out!
This book is by far one of my favorite Tessa Dare has ever written. I loved Piers so SO much! We got a little glimpse of him in Castles book #2 and it was wonderful getting to know him! It was also lovely getting acquainted with Charlotte, the sister of two of Ms. Dare’s other heroines from her wonderful Spindle Cover series.
While some romance readers love brooding, deeply troubled, borderline angry heroes who want to posses the woman they fall for, I much prefer lighthearted, funny heroes who still may have some troubles that the heroine can help them with, but do not become angry and upset at every little thing their lady does. Piers has troubles (and he royaly pisses me off with some of his behavior toward the end of the book) but overall, he is my favorite kind hero! He’s kind, thoughtful, protective but not possessive, funny, sarcastic at times, and redeemable. And then you have Charlotte who is his match in every way!
If you are a Tessa Dare fan, I can’t imagine you not loving this book! I sure did!
This was the first Tessa Dare book I’ve read–recommended to me by a friend. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was clever and sexy but also sweet. I plan to read more of Tessa Dare’s books. Happy reading!
One of my favorites that I’ve read in the last few years! Tessa Dare is AMAZING!!!
I read this for my local library’s Romance Book Club. Enjoyed it! Love Tessa Dare’s sense of humor.
Tessa Dare is one of my favorite authors, and I think this is one of her best books.
Ridiculously perfect!
Charlotte Highwood and Piers Brandon seemingly have little in common, they soon find out differently as they work together to solve a mystery! Charlotte is a forward young lady, an independent thinker who knows exactly what she does and doesn’t want out of life. Stuffy Piers is not what she’s looking for in a partner. I loved watching Piers fall under Charlotte’s comedic spell! This was a perfectly lovely romance with stellar narration by Carmen Rose.
Enjoyed the storyline with a bit of mystery added into the increasing, blossoming relationship between the two main characters. Wonderful read for a nice temporary escape.
‘On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library.
• Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan?
• Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall?
• Perhaps the butler did it.
All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.
But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit… and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.
Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?’
__________________________________
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.
Do You Want to Start a Scandal is a historical romance by Tessa Dare and holds a spot in two of her series. It serves as the fifth book in her Spindle Cove series and as the fourth book in her Castles Ever After series.
I haven’t read any of the other books in the Spindle Cove series, so I don’t know how this book compares to those. But I have read all the previous books in Dare’s Castles Ever After series and enjoyed them so I knew I’d want to read this one. I especially wanted to once I had realized that we would get to hear Piers story after his fianceé of 8 years broke off their engagement to marry his brother in the second book in the series. Also the very beginning bit of the blurb, the bullet list bit? That really grabbed my attention. I read that bit and it sounded to me like a very whimsical game of Clue and that decided it for me. Honestly all I ever want in any book is a little bit of mystery and I’m sold.
This book as been my favorite in the Castles series. It was really fun and silly, and the banter between Charlotte and Piers was perfect. I loved the mystery, obviously my favorite aspect of the story. A mystery which is later conclude in a ridulous but amusing fashion. Like all of Tessa’s book they are light-hearted and have a it of a modern feel to them and it really works with her writing style. I was glad to learn what became of Piers and I enjoyed reading about him and Charlotte.
Oh gosh, that little boy though? Talk about annoying. Where was his nurse that he was always wandering about making mischief? That my only complaint and it’s not really even a complaint. He was meant to be annoying and he was so nothing wrong there.
My only actually complaint was about the poison. There was so much tension and danger and there was so much potential to make the mystery great but the it just devolved into ‘woopsies!’ and was brushed aside. I really wish the potential of real danger had been explored. I nearly rounded down my rating because of this, but the book was still entertaining enough that I didn’t.
It looks like this is meant to be the last book in the Castles Ever After series, but I hope at some point that she writes another because I really enjoy this series and would love to read more of it. Here’s to hoping, however valliantly.
This was my favorite book by Tessa Dare it is very good and humorous. Especially when Charlotte ‘s mother tries to explain sex between a man and a woman. Hilarious!! I also loved the lead male character, PIers. He was yummy to me. Stoic and uncompromising, but Charlotte got too him. A must read for me. I have reread it a few times as well when I wish to laugh.
I would also recommend another of her books which is The Duchess Deal. Loved it as well.
Tessa Dare is a genius!! I love her books and this one is so good. Funny, steamy. And wonderful! I highly recommend this book!
Do You Want to Start a Scandal finally gives us the story of Charlotte Highwood (Spindle Cove series), a sensible, adventure-loving young woman whose mother would give Mrs. Bennet a run for her money in desperation to get her daughters titled, wealthy husbands. At a friend’s house party Charlotte knows her mother is going to not-so-subtly try and catch a marquess (Piers Brandon, Lord Granville to be exact), for Charlotte’s husband. Charlotte tries to warn Piers and reassure him that she has no desire to marry him, but no sooner has she said that than the two of them have to hide from a mysterious pair of lovers taking advantage of what they think is an empty library. Charlotte and Piers end up getting caught together and Piers saves Charlotte’s reputation by announcing their engagement. Charlotte decides to discover the identities of the mystery lovers to clear her name; Piers is trying to do some investigating of his own but keeps getting distracted by his attraction to Charlotte. Maybe this fake betrothal is a good idea after all?
This was a great book. Dare’s sense of humor comes through more strongly than her last few books and the fast-paced mystery kept me turning pages long after I should have put the book down for the night. Charlotte shines as a young woman who is confident enough in herself to try and lead the life she wants, who will flout convention and marry for love and not for scandal. Piers ended up being one of my favorite of Dare’s heroes: secretive, with a brilliant dry wit, and a traumatic childhood that has shaped him into a man who refuses to believe in love or that he’s worthy of the love Charlotte offers. Despite their differences, he quickly discovers that this seemingly odd pairing may be the perfect match.
We get more of Mrs Highwood here than in some of the other Spindle Cove books and I really loved how, instead of just making her a characture of the ultimate Matchmaking Mama, Dare gives us a great scene between Charlotte and her mother where we get to see into Mrs Highwood’s past and discover what shaped her into the mother that she is. There is also a scene where Mrs Highwood tries to explain marital relations to Charlotte that is one of the most painfully hilarious scenes ever- and Charlotte gets her revenge in the perfect way!
The chemistry between Charlotte and Piers is off the charts and the most innocent scenes between them steam up the page. The secret of the mystery lovers and the mystery Piers has been sent to unravel end up dovetailing perfectly- and wasn’t an answer that I guessed before Piers and Charlotte did, which I always like.
A definite must-read for not only Tessa Dare fans but anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced, brilliant book that they won’t be able to put down. The question is: Do you want to start a scandal? The answer should definitely be: Yes!
Great writer I’ve enjoyed all the books by her that I’ve read
tessa dare never disappoints
Loved Charlotte and Piers! There encounters are hilarious, Charlotte tries so hard to work things out and everything keeps going wrong. Piers is great too. Loved this book.
I love this book. Great writing
Charlotte and Piers are a great couple. He’s sort of a James Bond/ Remington Steele character with a wicked sense of humor. Very entertaining and typical Tessa Dare writing. You’ll never look at eggplants in quite the same way after this one!
Brilliant! I loved every word of this story. Piers seems proper and almost cold, perfect polite with sparsely changing facial expressions and excellent perception. And yet, Charlotte is the one I fell in love as soon as she opened up her mouth.
A delightful mix of sweet and feisty. I highly recommend.
**********************************************************************
Rereading in English: an XY author asked for my opinion on how the book was translated into Slovenian langauage. Therefore I’ve read it two times, in Slovenian and English. The story read in original language is even more marvelous!
Audio-book: Narrator – Carmen Rose
This narration was okay, not as entertaining or spot on as some of the others in this series. I still enjoyed it and would listen to more by her.
I’ve had this one on my TBR forever it seems. I’ve also had so many friends recommend it to me so I was pretty amped to finally pull it up and dig in. And then I was disappointed. I just never felt a real connection to the characters and I can be honest and say that life was kicking my behind during the time I was listening to this one. I sincerely believe my lack of response to Charlotte and Piers was 100% “it’s not you, it’s me” thing. I had also just finished listening to The Duchess Deal by this author and narrated by Mary Jane Wells and that one left me in a happy place I resided for days! Therefore, while I will be able to mark this one on my Goodreads challenge, I’m also going to shelve it as a possible reread (not audio next time) in hopes that I find the magic everyone exclaims over it.
Charlotte Highwood is blessed with a mother who loves her very much, but that same mother is also determined to see her married well, throwing her into one awkward situation after another. Charlotte is determined that her mother’s newest prospect will not end up being forced to marry her because her mother has maneuvered a “situation”. When Charlotte sneaks away to have a word with Piers Brandon, Lord Granville, and warn him, I and Piers are immediately charmed by her efforts. Charlotte, in her haste to make him aware that she is not trying to trap him, tells him she’d never find him attractive and he’s not her type. He’s intrigued and I’m laughing at the clever dialog and scene that Tessa Dare has written. The scene is not unusual, but she imbues Charlotte with a naive exuberance that you can’t help but find charming, and Piers definitely does.
As I was reading this novel, I realized that I had actually read Say Yes to the Marquess, the sequel to this one where Rafe, Piers’ brother, falls in love with Piers’ fiancee of many years. Say Yes.. was my first Tessa Dare novel in quite awhile and I think it’s fate that another blogger recommended I read Do You Want to Start a Scandal, the next in the series. That moment of recognition, when Piers’ identity is revealed along with the fact that his brother stole his last fiancee, made Piers immediately interesting. Tying those two histories together made his rather cool demeanor have meaning. That demeanor was a mask for his activities, and the fact that he dropped that mask for Charlotte made me like him for her.
This was a fun novel, and the fact that I fell into the plot so easily showed Tessa Dare’s talent for weaving a charming romantic tale.