Beneath Lily Layton’s sweet and charming exterior beats the heart of a vixen–one with shocking and scandalous secrets and desires. But as a genteel lady, she confines her forbidden fantasies, like those about her employer’s devastatingly handsome son, to her diary…until she loses it. Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose, has finally found the perfect wife, a woman who will not hide from his … from his dark, carnal cravings. He just needs to figure out who she is. When he has a secret rendezvous with a mysterious stranger, suddenly he starts to believe she might be the author of the diary.
He’s determined to find out who his mystery woman is…
His biggest fear–and deepest fantasy–is she may be the one woman he cannot have.
Each book in the Sweetest Taboo series is STANDALONE:
* Sin and Ink by Naima Simone
* Passion and Ink by Naima Simone
* The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton by Stacy Reid
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This was such an emotional, powerful and romantic love story!
I love Stacy Reid’s style of writing. This story is so full of everything you want in a sizzling, love story.
Mrs. Layton is a widow and a paid companion to the Dowager Marhioness. The Dowager is having a get together trying to find a wife for her handsome and virile son, the Marquess, Oliver.
Mrs. Layton lost her steamy and personal diary, which the Marquess found and has been reading and intrigued to find it’s author!
I love and adore Lily and Oliver’s love story! I could not stop reading, I cried, I did not want the story to end, but I so love Epilogue’s and this story has a lovely one!
Another 5 star sensually romantic novel from the amazingly talented Ms. Reid
4.5 stars Wow! Just Wow…I was hooked by the dedication of this book and then the story just blew me away!
Oliver Carlyle, the Marquess of Ambrose is hosting a house party at his estate in hopes of finding a bride, his mother has invited several worthy candidates and he knows he should be meeting them, but he has found a diary, filled with secret, wanton desires and he burns to know who the author is. Oliver has been bored, his life while privileged is just not fulfilling. He longs for a wife and family, but he needs a wife who can be all to him, someone who can satisfy his darker sexual desires. He didn’t believe he could find such a woman, until he read the diary.
Twice widowed Lily Layton is currently working as a companion to the Marchioness of Ambrose. But she has just learned that the Marchioness has decided it is time for Lily to remarry and has hired a new companion. Lily does not want to remarry, two husbands was quite enough, she longs to open a modiste shop in London, but the Marchioness is not taking no for an answer. Marriage was not kind to Lily, her last husband was a vicar and belittled Lily constantly for her “wanton” ways. Lily began writing down her secret desires in a diary, which has gone missing. Terrified that someone will find it, she frantically searches for it, which leads her to a secret passageway in the house and into the arms of a mysterious stranger.
Oliver comes across Lily in the dark passageway, they keep their identities secret, but willingly share their sexual desires, all Oliver knows is that is mystery lover is the author of the diary. They share an erotic conversation and an incredible night of passion. Lily cannot believe that she allowed a stranger to do those delightfully wicked things to her body, she is torn between shame and arousal. She vows that she will not let it happen again and will hold the memory for the rest of her life.
The Marchioness plays matchmaker and insists that Lily allow Mr. Crawford to court her. Mr. Crawford walks her to her parents in the village and saves her when a reckless rider barrels towards them – the Marquess! Oliver stops to make sure Lily is alright and decides to join them, going as far as to insist that Mr. Crawford apologize to her when he turns nasty after she rejects his proposal. When Mr. Crawford storms off, Oliver offers to accompany her. They talk and enjoy each other’s company – when they return from the village and caught in a downpour, they take refuge in a hunting cabin. Oliver is attracted to Lily, but he will never engage in an affair with his employees – his father did and Oliver vowed to never repeat his father’s sins – he likes Lily and offers her a fortune to help him pick a bride and even more money if she will pose for him.
Lily agrees, excited that her dream of opening a shop will become a reality – she likes Oliver and has dedicated more than one entry in her diary to her fantasies about him, but she knows that she could never be anything to him. She wonders if he could be her unknown lover, but quickly discards the idea.
Days pass and finally the night of the Marchioness’ ball arrives, Lily has designed her gown and feels a bit out of place, but Oliver rescues her and asks her to dance. It is heaven and later she offers to pose for him. He is too tempted by her and sends her away, but instead of going to bed, Lily goes back to the passageway in hopes of encountering her lover. Oliver and Lily meet again and this time, he takes her to a darkened room, where they explore and pleasure each other – Oliver admits who he is and wants to know her – she is not willing to give up her anonymity – she knows his feelings about relationships with employees and doesn’t want whatever it is between them to end. But the truth does come out and by then Oliver is too far gone to object – he asks her to be his mistress and she agrees – but only until he takes a wife.
They go to London and she opens her shop, things between them are as hot as ever and she knows that she loves him, but she accepts that she could never be his Marchioness. For his part Oliver has never been happier, Lily is all he has ever hoped for, not only is she a perfect match for his darker desires, but she is his friend and confidant – he has stopped looking for a wife because he cannot bear the thought of losing her. When a near death encounter makes Oliver examine his life, he chooses Lily and asks her to marry him. At first she is opposed, she has a secret that will surely make him turn away, but he sincere declaration of love and her brother in laws words of hope lead her to accept.
They are gloriously happy for months, but soon Lily’s secret begins to weigh on her and she begins to pull away, sure that her secret will destroy their love. Oliver is confused by her withdrawal and wonders if he is to blame. Finally he learns the truth and is shocked and saddened – but it changes nothing in his mind, but can he convince Lily that she truly is his heart’s one and only desire?
This was an incredible read, the writing was great (there were a couple of typos and incorrect names, but I assume those will be corrected by publication), I will acknowledge that it is not for everyone, if you do not like explicit love scenes or cringe at certain “offense” words, this book is not for you. But if you like your love scenes SCORCHING HOT, then you do not want to miss this book. Oliver and Lily are both wonderful characters, their stations in life do make their HEA improbable, but not impossible. While the book has several love scenes, there is much, much more to this book than just sex, the obstacles that they must overcome to be together are just as well done and moving as the love scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
I give this book 4.5 stars. This is Oliver and Lily’s story. Oliver is a a titled gentleman who has decided to look for a wife. His only concern is his darker passionate desires will scare an innocent debutante. Lily is a repressed commoner who writes her most secret desires in a diary. Oliver finds this diary and starts to look for its author.
This book is scorching hot, it was passionate and steamy. The couple is the most unlikely combination, never meant to mix. It is very much a forbidden love story. It is haunting and tragic at times, yet sweet and tender at others. I was unsure about how the HEA would occur, there were many obstacles. Rest assured there is a satisfying HEA.
This book held all the elements I look for in a steamy historical romance. It was very well written. The plot flowed well and kept your attention. The characters were strong and relatable. The only thing holding me back from not giving it 5 stars is of a matter of what kind of storyline I like. This book was a little too serious for me at the end, it was quite tragic at moments. I like a little more of a light hearted story. But again that is personal preference. If you like a very steamy read with a lot of depth and emotion this book is for you.
This is my first time reading this author. I would recommend this book to others and will read this author again.
Lily may be the paid companion to the Marquess of Ambrose’s mother, but she has a strong attraction to her son Oliver. When Oliver finds her diary he’s intrigued. When he meets the passionate lady in the secret passage, he can only hope to find out who she is. A most erotic book with this couple embracing the darker side of sex. Stacy Reid has a gift for writing a memorable love story.
OH MY GOSH. Stacy may be a new-to-me author but she’s now an auto-buy author as well. This book is so vivid and rich and decadent. I loved every moment.
I listened to the audio which was great, but I think I’d rather read and savor the rest of her books.
She’s definitely an author to watch. Goodness.
Twice widowed Lily Layton has a sweet exterior hiding shocking desires, which she has been told are sinful, so she only releases these forbidden desires to the pages of her diary. She is devastated when she loses the diary and fears her secrets could be revealed, especially her desires specifically for the Marquess of Ambrose. Since she serves as lady’s companion to his mother and though educated, she has no wealth or status of her own, she would be doubly ruined if her scandalous secrets were revealed.
Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose, is looking to settle down and find a wife, but he wants love, friendship, loyalty, commitment, and someone who can keep up with and reciprocate his rather carnal appetites. He doesn’t want to take mistresses and shame a wife as his father did to his mother. He despairs of ever finding a lady who fits the bill until he discovers a diary filled with scandalous fantasies and realizes its author could be the perfect woman for him. He just has to find out who she is.
His search leads to late night trysts with a stranger who he knows must be the authoress and leaves him determined to uncover her identity. But what if it is impossible for these two to every truly be together?
Whoa this book was steamy! Apart from having hot sex scenes, it also had a plot, which is rather rare for this sort of book. I loved that Oliver truly wanted to settle down and be monogamous with a wife and Lily’s longing for freedom and refusal to settle for what society thinks is best for her. Oliver develops a friendship with and an attraction for Lily but refuses to act on it given that she is technically in his employ. I really appreciated this nobility in his character.
This was my first read from this author, though I have several of her books in my TBR pole and they will now be moving up the list. This was a very well-written book. It was scorching hot, but well done in its sensuality and the development of an actual plot and I really enjoyed it.
I received an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Loved it!
I loved the story, the characters, the way Lily came to terms with her past marriage and felt free enough to write down all her most personal desires. One thing a person should not do if one writes them down is to lose the diary and she did.
It was found by Oliver and he just has to find out who this woman is for she fits into his idea of an ideal partner.
Well, need I say more other than it is a great read, kept me turning the pages and eager to find out what would happen next and I am happy to recommend it.
This book was a little out there. In a roundabout way it is a love story. We have Mrs. Layton a widow who decided to keep a diary of all of her wanted thoughts. Her last husband was a vicar and constantly told her how she was wicked so Lily thought that her thoughts were wrong but she couldn’t help her desires. She is working for Lady Ambrose and her son is gorgeous and she does have some scandalous thoughts about him. Lord Ambrose find this diary and sets out to find this woman, they have some secret liasons threw some secret passages in his home not knowing who the other was since it was dark. When he does find out who it is, he can’t help but pursue her knowing that he could never marry her, she is not in his social circles but atlast love will conquer all and he wont care that he turns his mistress into his wife..There is some voyeurism involved..
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
Can you say steamy?! The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton is book 3 in the Sweetest Taboo series. Though in a series this book can be read as a standalone. Stacy is such an amazing writer and I always enjoy reading her books and this is no exception. Her characters are lovable, the story is original and easy to follow. Can a couple from different classes fall in love? In this story they can and I just love that. To take a women who was married to a vicar and has a bigger appetite for sex is truly a creative way of thinking and that is what I love about Stacy’s books. She never ceases to surprise me. This story has a secret passage, a found diary, shyness, understanding, obsession, taking risks, kindness, misunderstandings, neglect, mystery and finding that one true love that enjoy the same things. I highly recommend this book is you don’t mind some really steamy sex scenes.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
The Sweetest Taboo, all stand alone books only connected by the taboo trope. So it’s been a while since I’ve read erotica like this. I enjoyed it, the story was nice the characters were pleasant and it was really hot. Now I know if I need good erotica I can count on Stacy Reid. My only issue is I didn’t like the ending, it was way to easy, I personally would have been happier without the epilogue. Third person POV that switches focus between Oliver and Lily. I loved the voyeurism and meeting in complete anonymity and being oblivious to that fact that they already know each other.
Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose, is ready to find himself a wife but he has certain requirements that aren’t usual things to look for in a wife. For one he has no plans ever to take a mistress so his wife must be able to handle the dark erotic things he likes. He knows it’s going to difficult but not impossible. During a house party, thrown by his mother in hopes he finds his future wife there, he finds a diary, in this diary are the most scandalous and erotic thoughts of a young widow. Determined to find out the owner of the diary and hopefully make her his wife especially since in the diary she mentions her attraction to him.
Lily Layton is a widow twice over and just at the age of 25, she went to work as a companion to the Marquess Ambrose’s mother. She never expected to be noticed never expected her sexual fantasies to come true she only wished that one day her dreams of designing dresses would come true. But her life took a different turn when her diary went missing. Dealing with social standings and expectations and blowing those out of the water by following your heart. This book is emotional at times when it comes to a secret Lily is hiding from Oliver that just may end the romance.
Overall, it was an enjoyable erotic romance. I almost wish it was a tad bit more lighthearted, the beginning and the middle were really erotic; nice and hot really good but toward the end it got serious and just kind of killed the mood. The whole epilogue it was so typical with as serious as the topic of infertility got I wish she stayed true to that path.
Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose is at the house party to find a wife. What he finds is a diary written by a woman who fascinates him, a woman with whom he can be himself in life and in the bedroom. Lily Layton has lost her diary and is frantic to find it before someone reads it and learns her dark and unconventional desires. Clues in the diary lead him to a tryst (or two) with Lily in a dark secret passage in the manor. Because these wonderful experiences occurred in darkness, neither knows who the other is. The search is on. When they discover each other in the daylight, what will happen?
Stacy Reid has written a sensual and emotional story. Oliver and Lily are both quite likable. Oliver is charming, honorable, a little rowdy, and adventurous in the bedchamber. Lily is twice widowed and is afraid of trying love and marriage a third time. She is sweet, kind, generous, and, according to her diary, wishes to be adventurous in the bedchamber. I like the secondary characters. Lily’s family was wonderful and funny. Radbourne is a wild one, but a great friend for Oliver. Lady Ambrose is staid, as a society matron should be, but loves Oliver and wants him to be happy. The story has a little mystery (for awhile), uncertainty, humor, romance, drama, and hot naughty times in (and out of) the bedchamber. At a time when a potentially devastating disappointment is revealed, Oliver makes a most passionate declaration of love. Grab a fan and a hanky. This one sizzles and has heart!
WOW! This book was Hot Hot HOT! And I Loved every second of it! This is a story of a twice widow Lily Layton and her coming into her own. Her second marriage to the local Vicar did a number on her, as she was made to feel sinful and unnatural for her sexual urges. Now living as a lady’s companion she writes down all of her desires in her private diary, including her longing for her employer’s son Oliver Carlyle, the Marquess of Ambrose. The books starts out with Lily searching for said diary as she has unfortunately misplaced it on her walk. While she never mentions her name in the book she fears discovery if it should find its way into the wrong hands. Of course the diary makes its way to the Marquess’ hands and lets just say from this point on you will want a glass of water and a fan near by!!! This book is right up my alley, plenty of steaminess with a solid story line. I often find that I end up having to compromise one for the other with most books, but not so with this one!! Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton by Stacy Reid is the story of Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose and Lily Layton. Lilly is a twice widower who is now a companion with Dowager Marchioness of Ambrose who wants to play matchmaker for her and find her a new husband. In addition the Marchioness is planning to find her son a wife. Lily doesn’t want to remarry since neither marriage was fulfilling for her nor her desires. Lily puts her thoughts in desires in a note book that now has gone missing. Oliver is board with his titled life and knows that he has to marry but wishes to find the women who has put such passionate thoughts to paper. Their romance starts in secret but their passion can’t stay in the shadows for long. I totally loved their story! I am such a fan of Ms. Reid’s romances…they have everything I love to read.
Get your fans out people, this is one seriously hot read!! The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton is a fun, engaging and slightly kinky historical romance.
Lily, an intelligent, charming and innately sensuous widow has been taught to deny and hide her carnal desires as it’s shameful and unladylike to crave such things. The only place she can let that part of herself free is while writing in her diary, and when she loses it all hell breaks loose.
Oliver, the Marquess of Ambrose, is ready to settle down. Only he wants to find a woman who not only meets the social requirements, but who shares his most shocking desires. He wants a companion in every way possible and when he finds a most intriguing diary, he sets to find out who it belongs to as the lady seems to share his cravings for… naughty shenanigans.
A mysterious encounter in a secret passage, leaves both Oliver and Lily enthralled with one another, but ignorant of the other’s identity. At the same time, Oliver asks Lily, as his mother’s companion, to help him chose a wife from his mother’s “selection”. Interacting as themselves they realize their mutual attraction translates into incredible chemistry but their difference in station is only one of the many obstacles in even considering a courtship.
I absolutely loved this story. Oliver was one kinky lord and he really knew how to… do stuff. He was charismatic, bossy, sexy AF and the sweetest man at the same time. Lily had to fight some conditioning from her previous marriage, but Oliver was eager to help her out with that, and their encounters were off the charts hot. I absolutely loved them together, mysteriously rendezvousing or not. They were always hot but once deeper feelings begin to show it was even hotter.
The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton is an easy to read historical with great characters, a delightful romance and lots of kinky, scorching hot sex. You definitely want to give this one a try.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
Hot and steamy. Lily and Oliver start an affair as strangers in the dark, without knowing each other’s name. Eventually that changes and they continue to fill their deepest and darkest desires. Once he realizes he can’t live without her they get married. This is definitely a one handed read. You will also need water around to cool down from the steamy heat coming off the pages.
Deliciously decadent chase for the ultimate prize!
Oliver has come to the point in his life where it’s time to settle down and marry for the sake of his title. But, he refuses to have an unfulfilling marriage like that of his parents, and that, coupled with his very specific tastes in bedroom activities, makes it practically impossible to find a woman that will meet all of his personal and societal needs. Ah, but then he finds the diary …
This delightful romance unfolds as Oliver investigates the ladies attending his house party, seeking to identify the author of the scandalous diary. He manages to meet her for a secret tryst that reveals their compatibility but not their identities. At the same time, he finds himself falling for the wholly inappropriate widow, Lily, his mother’s companion and therefore completely off-limits.
I was happily absorbed in this rule-breaking, breathtaking love story. Oliver and Lily show that true love supersedes all else, and being happy together is all that really matters. But Lily has a secret, one that threatens the very core of their happiness.
Just when you think they have their HEA, this secret becomes unbearable, and Oliver is forced to make a devastating decision. This was an especially poignant part of the book, and was so beautifully written. After accepting the truth of what he could no longer deny, Oliver’s devotion to Lily was unparalleled in its depth and really cemented the bond that these two have.
I loved every angsty, romantic, and oh-so-very-steamy moment of this fabulous book. It checks all the boxes of what a historical romance should be. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Prepare to get a cold compresses and put the fan on because the pages of the story will almost burn your fingers! Stacy Reid has created another sizzling romance that takes two people who are not of the same class and brings them together unexpectedly, in a most unconventional way. Lily was a a companion of the Marchioness of Ambrose after the death of her second husband. Her married life had not been happy and she longed for more. Writing her wanton thoughts in a diary were her outlet, but when she looses it, she is frantic to get it back. Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose had decided he needed to marry. He just felt emptiness in his soul and nothing seemed to make him happy. Until he found a diary that fascinated him! Now to find the writer. But it was a hard task because a house party was going on with a lot of ladies his mother had invited to help him find a wife. Who could it be? I will leave it at that and let you read the fast paged story that will take you high and low, only to bring you around to a surprising ending!!
This delicious historical romance was scorching hot!! I really liked Lily and Oliver’s story. I thought both characters were likable and I thought they made a good couple. It was very easy to feel for Lily. She has certainly been unlucky in love and I found my heart aching for her and quickly hoping that this time she would get lucky and get that HEA this time. As for Oliver, I liked him. I thought he was charming, honorable and simply a great guy. He knew what he wanted and was willing to go for it. Added to all this heat is some very heavy emotional drama. All together it creates a extremely fun and enjoyable romance.
The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton by Stacy Reid
Simon Carlyle, 9th Marquess of Ambrose has found a diary that has him intrigued. He would LOVE to find the woman who wrote it as she seems made for him. He is in the market for a wife and wants to be true to her…but…he also wants to have a wife who will meet his needs…all of them. This book felt “of the times” and at times reminded me of the book Fanny Hill and yet with a bit more heat and better quality of writing. Clandestine meetings, couplings in the dark secret passages of an estate home, fantasies fulfilled and even though I felt this in some ways more fantasy than reality I truly did relate to Lily and Ambrose as they worked their way toward love and what that could and would mean to both of them with the differences in their stations and having to deal with a secret Lily was carrying.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled – Scorched for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Lily Layton, twice widowed & only twenty five is now companion to the Marchioness of Ambrose, she’s sweet and charming but confines her forbidden fantasies, like those about her employer’s devastatingly handsome son, to her diary. Then she loses it & the man of her fantasies finds it.
Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose, has finally found the perfect wife, a woman who will not hide from his dark, carnal cravings. He just needs to figure out who she is. When he has a secret rendezvous with a mysterious stranger, suddenly he starts to believe she might be the author of the diary.
This story is like your favourite dessert indulgent, naughty but oh so good. I love the author’s books & have yet to be disappointed. The characters always have depth & are likeable. Oliver has been brought up to believe that he should treat his future wife with kid gloves & leave his darker desires to a mistress. However he knows that once he marries he will be faithful so choosing he right wife is extremely important. Lily is a widowed vicar’s wife, which I absolutely adored, in many ways she’s still quite an innocent as both husbands weren’t exactly hot blooded males. Oliver begins to notice Lily & knows he has to control himself as he won’t follow in his rakish father’s footsteps. I had to suspend a bit of belief that they didn’t recognise each other in the secret passage but it was very dark, it’s fiction & it added to the story. I loved how they came to like each other & both hoped that their mystery lover was in fact who it was. A lovely hot read that at times threatened to combust my kindle, it was also quite touching at times & I loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read