Book One in an exciting new Regency Historical Romance series from bestselling author Scarlett Scott…A duke with demons and a governess with secrets collide in this passionate tale!Crispin Ashforth returns from battle the newly inherited Duke of Whitley with two sisters under his charge. Publicly lauded as a hero, he is haunted by the bitter mission that nearly saw him killed and cost the life … killed and cost the life of his best friend. He’s desperate to drown out the demons tormenting him by any means, regardless of how depraved.
All he needs to do is find a proper governess for his hellion sisters so he can drink and wench himself into oblivion. Enter Miss Jacinda Turnbow, who is as lovely as she is prickly. It doesn’t take Crispin long to realize he’s found precisely the sort of distraction he needs in the prim governess.
But Jacinda has secrets of her own, and she’s no ordinary governess. To save herself and her father from ruin, she has agreed to infiltrate the duke’s home and search for evidence that he’s a traitor.
Resisting his advances grows more difficult by the day, however, as she discovers there’s more to Crispin than the careless life of sin he’s cultivated. And the greatest danger she faces is losing her heart to the man she has no choice but to betray.
Purchase or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
more
As a reader, you get so mad at this irresponsible man. In a way, you can understand his grief, but totally disconnect yourself from responsibilities and family is difficult to read. The new governess grows tired of his ways and finally convinces him he needs help and is failing in many aspects of his life.
Exciting!
Crispin and Jacinda. These are the two man characters in this story and they are so well matched.
Both have one track minds. Each of them needs something from the other and nothing can sway them from their paths to get it.
This is a well written and passionate story with characters who pleased me so much with all their antics.
I feel I must mention Crispin’s two younger sisters here. The mischief they got up to was quite remarkable and they had me chuckling whenever they appeared.
A book to be read and enjoyed as it is very entertaining.
One of my favourite aspects about this series is that the heroes–scoundrels and rakes, all–have such dark internal conflicts, and even though I know they will reach their HEA, I still cannot imagine how that can happen as I begin reading.
Book 1 begins with Crispin, the Duke of Depravity suffering PTSD from the Peninsular War. Nightmares, days lost in a fog of booze and ladies of the night, and off the rails behaviour aren’t helping. Then Jacinda Turnbow arrives as the new governess to Cris’ two young sisters and sparks fly. Jacinda, a skilled decipherer, has been blackmailed into the job with the secret tack of finding proof of the duke’s treason. What she finds leads them all into dark danger.
This series is seductive, dark and delicious, and it doesn’t matter too much if you start with a later book as the author weaves in sufficient details to make the relationships clear.
Highly recommended.
I’ve been reading this series pretty much in reverse. Any order is just fine, each book is a great stand alone. Some stories similar, but with different plots and personalities. Would definitely recommend.
Duke Of Depravity by Scarlett Scott is an outstanding historical romance. Ms. Scott has delivered a well-written book with a fantastic group of characters. Crispin returns from the war when his brother dies, leaving him a Duke with two young sisters to raise. Jacinda helps her father decipher messages for the Crown and loved decoding. She is forced to try getting a job with Crispin as governess for his two sisters. Crispin and Jacinda’s story is packed with drama, humor, melt your e-reader sexy bits, action and suspense. I loved this story and look forward to reading more from Scarlett Scott in the future. Duke Of Depravity is book 1 of the Sins and Scoundrels Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
Crispin Ashforth is summoned back to England from fighting in the war, an acclaimed hero. He is now Duke of Whitley upon the death of his brother. But Crispin lives in the darkest world – a world he created by his misplaced guilt of the brutal murder of his beloved friend Morgan, Marquess of Searle. Guardian of his 2 younger wild sisters, his self imposed hell consists of drink and pleasure. Governesses come and go until Jacinda Turnbow interviews for the job – against her will. Jacinda is a war widow living with and helping her father, Sir Robert Symthe, who comes from a long line of deciphers who work for the Crown. Pressured by the Earl of Kilross into obtaining evidence that the Duke is a traitor Jacinda poses as a governess to free her father from his debt. But the more she knows the demons that haunt Crispin, she is convinced of his innocence. Crispin’s attraction to her goodness and light helps to pull him slowly out of his depraved life and begin to give his attention to his sisters, who have run wild in their loss. Adventures and belief in Crispin’s innocence and patriotism lead Jacinda into danger – a danger she embraces in order to free Crispin both from fraudulent charges and his demons! Looking forward to others in this series!
A Wonderfully Steamy Read.
Not one of Scarlett’s best Books.
I did enjoy reading the book. It was Wonderfully Steamy. If you don’t enjoy reading these types of books, this one is not for you.
What a great rea! I can’t recommend enough!
very good
Should be titled “Obsession of Miss Governess”. So sensual, poignant, sexy and steamy. The author has a way of making the reader feel the “no” in the steamy episodes. Many witty funny lines, interesting different story line. Love the characters, great atmosphere of the period. Great word building, a thesaurus comes in handy. All in all an entertaining story to keep in the library to re-read.
The title tells you everything you need to know about this book. It was too much depravity and not enough romance.
Trashy story about a despicable drunken lout of a hero who sees women as vaginas that make his life worth living. The heroine takes all his abuse and of course falls into bed (and onto desktops) with this jerk. I wasted a bit of my life reading this one to the end. I suggest you don’t repeat my mistake.
Great part of the series. Great characters and plot with enough action to be quite interesting.
Very engaging personalities in uncharacteristic situations. Coping with disasters, finding themselves drawn to seemingly polar opposites and seeking private redemptions this couple runs the gamut of emotions.
Thorough enjoyed the ride!
Wowzah, this book is hot. Loved it.
I enjoyed the characters and story.
It an okay romance story. They lived appily ever after.
Not for me.
Too much sex talk got in the way of the story and the characters.
I did find his getting her last name wrong very funny and original.
Gorgeous cover, by the way.
Just a couple of thoughts. The Duke is a gross, arrogant, rude pig for much of the story. I have a feeling this creation is much closer to real Duke’s in Regency England than the fictional ones we read about. But as with all bad boys, there is something about him that is compelling. Not charming but compelling. Although alcohol and women [ (the author WAAAYYYYY over-used the words quim and cunny. Okay, okay. I get it. These are Regency terms, but enough! (hide spoiler)] are his panacea for guilt and Napoleonic PTSD, he doesn’t return to the skanky women after he meets the heroine.
The heroine was more of a problem. She’s been blackmailed into investigating the H, [and even after they have sex and she falls for him she pushes to find evidence. She more than redeems herself, but it made me feel cautious. (hide spoiler)]
I really wanted her to lock her charges in a closet or short-change their beds as they were awful for most of the book, but they have a turn around as well.
Kindle Unlimited so what is there to lose?
I always enjoy Ms. Scarlett’s books! This one is another well written story. The Duke with nightmares after returning from war and his best friends death. She the Governess with her own reasons seeking employment as a Governess for two out of control sisters.
This is definitely page turner and very entertaining. Delightful, witty, with a good story line!
I highly recommend this and all her books.