A Skilled Socialite
Gloriana Blakely has finally gone too far. To the distress of her parents, this exquisitely beautiful debutante refuses to settle for anything less than the life – and the husband – she deserves. As punishment for her latest defiance, she is banished to her cousin’s estate in Yorkshire for the autumn, where Society is barren and her childhood nemesis is close at hand.
A … nemesis is close at hand.
A Seductive Scoundrel
Rakish and handsome, Lord Alex Somers has finally completed his studies at Oxford, prolonged by a healthy amount of philandering and mischief. Unfortunately, he is now faced with the dire task of having to actually do something with his life. He returns to his family estate to ponder his future, only to discover a beautiful guest has arrived, and taken it upon herself to throw a lavish country party in his honor!
Secrets, Spies, and Seductions
Alex and Gloriana can’t seem to avoid butting heads, with the tension between them increasing by the day. As the festivities begin, the two find themselves unwittingly pulled into a dangerous dance among the distinguished and powerful guests within the walls of Somerton. A deadly game of cat and mouse is overshadowed only by the building desire between the unlikely pair, as the scandalous secret weaves a web of seduction around them both.
The Scoundrel and the Socialite is the second installment in The Somerton Scandals series, but can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story. If you enjoy steamy love scenes, passionate romance, and a sweet happily ever after, grab your copy today!
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Gloriana Blakely has turned down one too many suitors for her parents’ liking and now they’ve sent her off to spend some time with her cousin in remote Yorkshire. She’s decidedly less than thrilled at being banished from society and being forced to share the estate with her girlhood nemesis who is now her cousin’s sister-in-law.
Alex Somers has at last finished his Oxford degree, in much more time than it should have taken him, but now he must make a decision about what to do with his life. With nowhere else to go, he returns to his brother’s estate in Yorkshire to figure out his next move, only to discover that a lovely guest has entrenched herself in the family library and taken up his cause by planning an elaborate country house party to celebrate the completion of his studies.
Alex and Gloriana disagree at every turn, building a decidedly less than unfriendly tension between them. They find themselves thrown together at every turn, especially when they uncover a potentially treasonous plot unfolding during the party, and the two are brought together by a secret they’ve accidentally overheard, even as their mutual attraction begins to blossom into something more.
I was unsure about this one because I really couldn’t stand Gloriana as a supporting character in the previous book and for a while at the beginning of this story, it seemed she still hadn’t matured. Thankfully, though she is still rather whimsical, this Gloriana at least demonstrates some growth and development. In fact, she and Alex both had some growing up to do and they seemed to be a good influence on each other as both demonstrated a good amount of development between the beginning and end of the book. I loved the house party setting here and I thought the tension between the two MCs was well-drawn. The mystery/spy element was a bit thin, but I think this twist sets the rest of the series up to be quite interesting, especially as secondary characters begin pairing off, and I’ll look forward to continuing.
Gloriana begins planning a house party to celebrate Alex’s completion of his degree at Oxford even before she has met him. Glory is traveling with her good friend Rose, who is married to Alex’s brother Gideon. This book is filled with amusing scenes. For example, Glory meets Alex when he is sneaking in through the library window in the middle of the night. Thinking he is an intruder, Glory smacks Alex in the face with a heavy ledger, blackening his eye. In addition to the underlying romances, the book also has a bit of spycraft. Best of all, though, are the characters whose repartee keeps the action moving.
Gloriana/Glory, an exquisitely beautiful debutante, refuses to settle for anything less than the life and the husband she desires. As punishment for her latest defiance, her parents banish her to her cousin’s estate in Yorkshire for the autumn. Society is barren there, and her childhood nemesis is close. Lord Alex Somers is rakish and handsome. He finally completed his studies at Oxford, prolonged by a healthy amount of philandering and mischief. He now has the dire task of having to actually do something with his life. He returns to his family estate to ponder his future, only to discover a beautiful guest has arrived. She has taken it upon herself to throw a lavish country party in his honor. – Glory is a fun character, independent and smart. Alex is more exciting about Glory. They are good for each other. I enjoyed Glory’s relationship with her friends and her conversations with Alex. The mystery surrounding Alex is interesting. There is more sexual content that in most historical romances. This is worth a read
I recently got a prequel to this series and after reading it I am burning my way through the rest. I love this scandalous bunch and cannot wait to see what happens to Heloise and Callum in the last book I just started tonight.
This particular one focuses on two characters that it seems so unlikely for them to love and yet they do. Funny circumstances and intrigue that is resolved. Each book is an individual read – but to read the series you really get to see how all of the characters relationships develop and grow.
Book two in the Somerton Scandals series. Can be read and enjoyed as stand-alone. Full length told in dual POV with HEA. Secondary characters are the same throughout the series. Gloriana and Alex were both secondary characters in book one and they both did a lot of growing up sense then. This book had some mystery & a little steam but could have used an epilogue! I will be reading the next book in the series!
She is causing trouble and she is about to be banished to the country. He has finished his studies and he goes home where he will meets her. She is planning a ball and soon they are butting heads. Will it ever become more? How will the ball go? See how it goes
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Somerton Scandals are the best!
The second of this series focuses on Gloriana Blakely, darling of the ton, spoiled daughter and cousin of Rose, our heroine in the first book. Determined to see her settled, her father picks out a husband Glory promptly refuses, angering her parents. Rose comes to the rescue once again and takes Glory with her to Yorkshire for a country party to welcome her brother-in-law, Lord Alex Somers, home from his degree at Oxford. A lovable rake without a future, Alex is welcomed home by a blow on the head from Glory as he tries to sneak into his home through a window. Ever the socialite, Glory is determined to bring the best of society to her cousin’s home and spends all her time planning the house party, when she thinks Alex is an intruder. One of the guests at the party is Mr. Nathaniel Atlas she is determined to bring up to scratch with a proposal by the end of the party. Handsome and cool and member of House of Commons, he is a rising politician, which suits Glory as she is determined to be part of something exciting, not a wife hidden away in the country. But Glory’s encounter with Alex in the library during his welcome ball, hidden in a closet, they overhear a conversation among 2 men and a lady about information Alex removed from Oxford essential to England – and they must find it or kill him! The two of them work together to try to discover the secret information – adventures which leads them to discover the surprising identity of the spies and the information they are after and the clever place it was hidden. But Glory and Alex discover much more – their deep love for each other! Very clever mystery and beautiful love story! The addition of characters holds promises of future books!
Loved the book it was great, the story was well written and the characters are interesting. I really enjoyed this book I could not put the book down the twist and turns with emotions that makes you want more with lust and hot and steamy.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Scoundrel and the Socialite is the second book in The Somerton Scandals. We were first introduced to Gloriana Blakely in the first book when her parents arranged a marriage for her, and she refused to marry the gentleman they choose. Instead her cousin, Rose, married the gentleman and her parents have tried to arrange another marriage. When she refuses the match, she is banished to her cousin’s estate where there are no members of Society. Lord Alex Somers has finally finished his studies at Oxford but has no idea of what he wants to do with his life. Gloriana decides that the way for her to avoid boredom during her banishment is to throw a house party to honor Alex. Things don’t go smoothly between the two but when they become involved solving a mystery, they begin to realize their true feelings. I really enjoyed the first book and I didn’t really care for Gloriana in that book. I am still not a big fan of hers, but she has become more likable. She didn’t seem to grow in character over the two books. I wish she would have become a little less selfish.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I Loved This Book!
This book has it all: great writing, interesting storyline, romance, intrigue and humor, too! Loved everything about it! Gloriana and Alex were perfect for each other. I highly recommend this book! The only thing I could say about it was that I would have liked an epilogue but that’s a very minor thing. Check this book out!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Gloriana has been sent to her cousin’s house int he country after refusing to marry the man her father has picked out for her. If she marries at all, she wants to marry for love. When she learns that her cousin’s BIL will be returning home after finishing university, she decides to spend her time in the country, planning his welcome home party. She didn’t plan on the two of them butting heads every time they interacted…
Alex is finally finished his studies at Oxford, but doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life as he doesn’t have any real skills. When he arrives home, he meets the vexing Gloriana, sho is planning a party for him. Even though they keep butting heads, they both find themselves attracted to one another. And during a moment of indiscretion, they overhear people threatening Alex’s life.
Can they find the people that are after Alex? What are they going to do about this unwanted attraction?
I really enjoyed Alex and Gloriana’s story! This is the second book in the series and while it could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading book 0.5 and book 1. It will make it that much more enjoyable. I really watching these two fall in love. The bantering between them had me laughing out loud. I’m so excited for the next book in the series, so that we can finally see Heloise and Callum get their HEA!
A delightful story that takes you in at the first page and doesn’t let go until the end. A debutante can only turn down so many marriage proposals until her parents banish her to the country. At least that was the case for Gloriana Blakely as she traveled with her cousin Rose to her Yorkshire estate. What would she do with her time? She was waiting for the perfect man, could they not understand that?
Luckily she found a task of planning a party for Rose’s brother in law who had just graduated from Oxford and would be home to start planning his future. Glory was in her element planning the country party that would be a great surprise for Alex.
Unfortunately her and Alex’s first meeting was him sneaking in a window and Glory knocking him senseless with a book and screaming! Not a good start for these two but it got better!
A building, sizzling attraction, humor and a mystery drive this story to a satisfying conclusion!
Gloriana and Alex meet in less than ideal circumstances in Yorkshire. Gloriana was exiled by her father from London to rethink her continued refusals to marry during the last four seasons. Spending time at her cousin’s marital home, she plans a party to celebrate Alex’s completion of his studies at Oxford. The country party does not turn out quite the way she expected. Throw in a poor relationship between mother and son (Ruthie and Alex), nemesis in his sister Heloise and intrigue. Interesting read.
Gloriana first appears flighty and just wanting to thwart her parents who believe she’s gone too far! She really wants love and did not want to be saddled with the groom her parents picked out so she’s in hiding at her best friends house and decides to throw a party for her friends brother graduation from college! Alex has completed his studies and not sure what the next step should be! Alex is drawn to Gloriana but these two butt heads in a hilarious fashion! Intrigue humor and of course a HEA!
Secrets, spies, passion and love
I really enjoyed this book. What happens when you come home from university late at night and you sneak into a library window? You get smacked in the face with a ledger by a very frightened debutante. That’s how Alex and Glory first met. Of course Alex thought he was seeing an angel, stars most definitely. That was one of my favorite parts in the story and really grabbed my interest.
A country party held for Alex, spies who think Alex possesses something that could mark him as a traitor to the crown and a scandalous secret mark this book as a most enjoyable read and I do love a HEA.
Ava Devlin has a gift of bringing her characters to life. If you like strong sassy women and seductive scoundrels this one is a must read.
The second book in The Somerton Scandals series a well written story that held my interest until the end. At the start I did not like Gloriana Blakely but as the story went on I started to like her. Lord Alex Somers is a rogue right from the start and I enjoyed reading about him. There is drama, danger, suspense, villains, and romance. I want to read the next book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Fun, fun, read!! Gloriana was such a fun heroine. She was opinionated, headstrong, and not willing to marry anyone unless she was in love. Alex was a rogue, just graduated from university, and no future job lined up. Didn’t even know what he wanted to do. But Gloriana brings out the best in him. And they have to solve a mystery or else Alex might be hurt. I loved the secondary characters in this book also. Friends and relatives of them both. Great story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Gloriana Blakely refused one too many suitors chosen by her father, so her parents sent her to spend some time with her cousin Rose and her husband Gideon at their country estate in Yorkshire where she fears she will be bored to death. Lord Alex Somers, Gideon’s younger brother, has finally completed his studies at Oxford and has some life decisions to make. Gloriana uses his return to arrange a party for him. Before long, Alex charms Gloriana and she finds herself enjoying his company.
Things take a turn when Alex is suspected of being a traitor, and the two of them join forces to find out who the real culprits are to prove his innocence. Will they solve the mystery in time to keep Alex safe? Will they finally act on their attraction to each other?
This was a very well-written story with intriguing characters and a touch of mystery. The pacing was perfect and the story line kept the reader’s attention. Grab your copy and enjoy the goings-on with Alex and Gloriana. Will they find their HEA?
A wonderful story that will kept reading until the end…
Two enemies during an house party….
Fun, twists, surprises and spies…
A story for all!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.