A horse race in trousers on Rotten Row. Visiting a gaming hall in a dress that would make her mother faint. Sneaking an invitation to a masquerade ball attended by only the wickedest, most debauched members of society…
None of these things are scaring off bookish but strong-willed Amelia Bishop’s stuffy, egotistical fiancé.
The only thing left is to entice childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield into a truly engagement-ending scandal. The Wakefields are the height of propriety, and Nicholas’s parents have made it clear a wife from the neighboring Bishop family would be unacceptable…
But Nicholas would give up his family and his fortune if Amelia would ever see him as more than just a childhood friend. He’ll go along with her scheme, even if it means ruining them both, because he’s got a plan that will change her mind about him being merely the boy next door.
The Meta Details:
Source: Netgalley
Format: eBook
Length: 250 pages
Publication Date: July 25, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Content Level: Adult
Pearl Clutching Content: Scandalous is right there in the title, the whole book is about making people clutch their pearls (historical pearls, but some things are still pretty tawdry. The orgy comes to mind.)
Trigger Warnings: crazy moms and asshole fiances.
Featuring: A gentleman who talks about getting pegged, a lady who discusses rouged nipples, and then the main characters are there as well.
Scorecard:
Recommended for: fans of being outrageous
Rating: you’re a bit of alright, aintcha luv?
Ginny Lurcock’s Thoughts: I literally just wrote “I won’t read your book about cheaters” when I picked this up. Chewing on my thumbnail, I gave it a bit to reconcile itself. Maybe Amelia was being forced to marry by her father?
But no… her father dotes on her endlessly…
Instead, she was just having second thoughts because she’s engaged to a piece of white bread. Obviously, her fiance does not make her tingle… but her childhood best friend does. While she hadn’t cheated on him yet or started plotting to throw him over, it was clearly only a matter of time.
With a resigned sigh, I read the bit about guys being fucked in the ass in Paris before…
…before Montrose fucked up. He insulted Amelia’s chronically ill sister, like an asshole. She tried to end the engagement and he threatened to sue for breach of contract.
And we’re off to the races…
No, literally. Amelia sets out to become too scandalous to wed, and in doing so becomes vocal about suffrage, wears pants, goes gambling, and races. All as promised on the back of the book. What it doesn’t mention is that Amelia and Nick were kind of boring when they were introduced. Nick was besotted and bland, only doing what he thought was best for his family while being as quiet as a mouse. Amelia just wanted to be left alone and for nothing to change…
Honestly, if it wasn’t for Jasper and Julia I’d have probably given up. (See previous: fucked in ass)
But as she seeks to become more scandalous and he seeks to free her from her bullshit betrothal, they actually become real characters. Interesting characters. Like they’re only real people with each other and without they’re only pale imitations.
Sappy and disgusting now that I’ve typed it out, but in the narrative, it works. God help me, it really works.
So come for Jasper, Julia, and Ruby and stay for the romance that is bound to move you.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for a fair and honest review via Netgalley.
Ginny Lurcock 