A Scandalous Mistress

Ladies of Paradise Road #1

by Juliet Landon

A move to Richmond was the fresh start Lady Amelie Chester needed to escape the rumors surrounding her husband's death. And what better place to launch her niece into the ton?

But scandal followed Amelie and, unwittingly, she falsely confessed to an intimate relationship with Nicholas, Lord Elyot, heir to the Marquess of Sheen! Enchanted and intrigued, Nicholas was quick to take every advantage of the situation.…

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Harlequin, Fiction, Regency, Historical Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

As the author of books on embroidery design, the progression in 1994 from fact to fiction was perhaps less daunting for Juliet than it might have been for a complete beginner. But in many ways, the requirements are similar: a strong imagination and sense of design; an eye for detail; a love of color, scenery, and research; and a willingness to share inner thoughts and feelings with readers. Dedication is also useful to Juliet, living in the country, as the temptation to spend time picnicking and sightseeing instead of writing is sometimes very strong.

Reviews

[Desi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me pareció bastante entretenido

[Michelle Connolly · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing was good, but extremely boring. There were only a few chapters -or scenes- I actually enjoyed, and it never really had me excited or wanting to know what happened next. I'm not even sure how I finished reading it in the first place. I didn't feel a true connection between the characters nor any chemistry, and didn't like a lot of the main characters, so I will definitely not be reading number two.

[F. · Rating 1 out of 5]

NO lo recomiendo en absoluto

I don't recommend at all.

Crítica completa en español:
Sinceramente no pude pasar de la octava página de lo despreciable que me resultó el personaje masculino central, abandoné su lectura allí mismo.
Hay un grado de imperfección humana que es aceptable, puede ser incluso tolerable y que en el curso de una novela (y más en una TAN breve como ésta) tiene factibilidad de evolucionar hacia un cambio de carácter y personalidad positivos, pero alguien tan ABERRANTE es francamente imposible y la vuelve completamente inverosímil:

El pleno desprecio por los de menor rango; la inmensa indiferencia por los menos favorecidos; el total desapego con su propia familia; la sanguinaria brutalidad hacia las madres solteras y sus hijos, que son llamados irónicamente “premios”; la cosificación absoluta de las mujeres al punto de llamarlas “ganado”...

No, si quieren un texto de calidad y que les aporte algo valioso y no un regusto agrio... NO es éste.


Full English review:
Honestly, I couldn't get past the eighth page because of how despicable the central male character seemed to me; I gave up reading right there.
There’s a degree of human imperfection that’s acceptable, maybe even tolerable and that over the course of a novel (especially one AS SHORT as this one), can evolve into a positive change in character and personality. But someone so ABERRANT is downright impossible and renders it completely implausible:

The complete contempt for those of lower rank; the immense indifference for the less fortunate; the total detachment from his own family; the bloodthirsty brutality toward single mothers and their children, who are ironically called “prizes”; the absolute objectification of women to the point of calling them “cattle”...

No, if you want a quality text that offers you something valuable and not a sour aftertaste... This ISN'T it.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comincio questa trilogia, dedicata alle Ladies of Paradise Road, incentrata su tre gentildonne che vivono nella stessa via della cittadina di Richmond e che si caratterizzano per avere idee un po' anticonformiste rispetto alla tradizione (siamo in epoca Regency).
Si parte con Amelie, giovane vedova che arriva in paese e subito si attiva per aiutare i reclusi nella prigione per debiti, comprese le donne incinte.
Tutto bene, ma la famiglia nobile che regge il governo locale (il marchese padre è anche giudice di pace) si attiva per scovarla e bloccarla.
Confesso che fin qui, credevo che Amelie fosse la buona e intrepida, e i conti i cattivi (anche perché sono veramente presentati male: nullafacenti annoiati, pieni di amanti e vizi).
Invece appena Lord Nicholas Elyot si palesa per indagare, facendo finta di corteggiarla, ottiene una resa incondizionata e un abbandono rinunciatario che è quasi imbarazzante (alla fine è lui a insistere pure per sposarla, tanto lei è obnubilata dall'esperienza erotica).
Narrazione piatta, spesso raccontata, personaggi insipidi e monodimensionali.
Ho saltato pagine per il sonno e il caldo 🤐😴😴😴

[Sullivan Brando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es mi primera novela de época, y a decir verdad me gustó, no es la gran cosa, sobre todo porque el final se me hizo muy apresurado, sien embargo la relación de Nick y Amelie me gustó bastante.

El plot twist igual, no me lo esperaba, así que en esa parte mientras lo estaba leyendo, me sentía como señora chismosa tomando el té.

Cómo leí en alguna reseñas, creo que está obra es para pasar el rato, es para esas lecturas que luego se antoja hacer, por lo cual está muy bien si tienes un bloqueo lector o por si acabas de terminar un libro demasiado grande.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es el tercer libro que leo de esta autora. Me ha parecido solo BUENO, una protagonista un poco reticente debido al pasado qué trae.
Elyot es todo lo bueno, un hombre de resuelve y actúa de manera asertiva con Ella.
Algunas cosas que me gustaron del libro, fue la sorpresa del padre de Emily, sus orígenes y si duda quien más brilló fue Catarina, su sobrina. Aveces parecía que estaba leyendo sobre ella.
Lord Rayden me pareció un personaje carismático que me deja con la sensación de leer su historia ( si la hay).
El atentado qué sufre, me fue muy cliché el rescate.
El final tambien bueno.

[Abril C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Puntuación: 4.00/10.00

Es un libro entretenido pero no me gustó. Muchos saltos en la trama, se siente muy disperso y me pierdo fácilmente sobre lo que hacen los personajes. Además de no poder juzgar bien el carácter de los personajes por falta de profundidad en su desarrollo (o quizás simplemente no me interesaron lo suficiente, no sabría decir). El punto es que fue una novela para pasar el rato, que no volvería a leer pero que al menos leí hasta el final.

[Lua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Livro bom para passar o tempo

[Priscilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Resoluções muito rápidas de conflito e partes arrastadas.

Funcionou como sonífero.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in the Ladies of Paradise Road. I read Dishonor and Desire first and it was so good I wanted to read the beginning of the story.

Lady Amelie Chester moves to Richmond with her niece, Caterina. Caterina is the main character in the second book.

They meet up with Lord Nicholas Elyot and his brother Lord Rayne Seton. Nicholas knows he wants Amelie from the get go and when she claims to be in an arrangement with him to scare off a blackmailer he walks in on the conversation and uses it to benefit his pursuit of her.

There are many things going on in the book. Lord Elyot is coming to Richmond to find who has been buying off the men at the workhouse to help remove pregnant woman and others. Amelia is that person. Caterina falls in love, or so as a seventeen girl believes, with Lord Rayne who is seven years her senior and only amusing her so his brother can go after her Aunt.

I enjoyed Juliet's writing style and story telling.