My Scandalous Bride

by Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Celeste Bradley

Christina Dodd, "The Lady and the Tiger"
Laura Haver will stop at nothing to find out who killed her brother-even if it means posing as the wife of notorious rogue Keefe Leighton, the Earl of Hamilton. But things go too far when Keefe engages Laura in an artful game of seduction-a game that can have only one winner...

Stephanie Laurens, "Melting Ice"
Once, Dyan St. Laurent Dare, Duke of Darke, dreamed of making Lady Fiona his bride. Now they're together again-at a scandalous dinner party where debauchery is the menu's main course. But will wedding bells ring after the guests get their just desserts?

Celeste Bradley, "Wedding Knight"
Alfred Knight will do anything to avoid a scandal-even marry a woman he barely knows. But his bride has a most titillating secret...one she'll share as soon as she conquers her temptation for the man she was never supposed to marry!

Leslie LaFoy, "The Proposition"
Rennick St. James, the Earl of Parnell, has four days to seduce London's most popular widow into becoming his wife-or else she'll marry another man. It won't be easy...but Rennick has been lusting after the beguiling Julia Hamilton far too long to let her go now...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Anthologies, Historical, Regency, Fiction, Regency Romance

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 31, 1999

About the author

Upcoming:
— 6/30/26 TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN: Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #3 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

New and Now!
—MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: Daughter of Montague Christmas novella https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— THUS WITH A KISS I DIE Daughter of Montague Historical Fiction #2
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA Historical Fiction Trade Paperback Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (hint: badly). Only here’s the thing: That’s not how it ended at all…
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
— WELCOME TO GOTHIC: A Gothic novella in ebook (at last!) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— WHAT DREAMS MAY COME Daughter of Montague novella 1.5 "I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn’t die in the tomb…" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
— GIRL ANONYMOUS “Crackling sexual chemistry and a few love scenes guaranteed to scorch readers’ fingers as they turn the pages." — ⭐️ Booklist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Readers become writers, and Christina has always been a reader. Ultimately she discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700 lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,” including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover) at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining, wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.

(Source: http://www.christinadodd.com )

Reviews

[Beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuatro originales y muy entretenidos relatos, escritos por cuatro renombradas autoras de romance histórico. Me gustaron especialmente porque, a pesar de lo breves que son, en todos se notó la preocupación de contextualizar el pasado e historia de los personajes principales, por lo que no pecaron del tan recurrido insta-love.

Reto #30 PopSugar 2018: Un libro con personajes que son gemelos

Respecto del reto, el relato de Celeste Bradley, Noche de bodas, trata de dos hermanas gemelas que se intercambian el día de la boda de una ellas, generando situaciones de lo más divertidas.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book solely to read "The Proposition" by Leslie Lafoy. My rating is based on that short story.

Rennick St. James, the Earl of Parnell, has returned home to find the lovely Julia Hamilton engaged to another man. Rennick has loved Julia for years. He was her husband's friend but would never cross the line to make a move on Julia. Now she is available for the next four days until her wedding. Rennick vows to win Julia over before she marries another man.

This story confused me. I liked both Rennick and Julia. They were great together. They both confessed that they had loved each other for years, but Julia still wouldn't agree to break off her engagement and marry him. I couldn't figure out why other than the fact that he had a reputation as a playboy and she didn't think he was good husband material. It still didn't explain why she was in a hurry to marry another man. My rating: 3 Stars.

[L8blmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology with stories by Stephanie Laurens, Celeste Bradley, and Leslie LaFoy in addition to Dodd, who is listed as the author. All the stories had a satisfying HEA ending, and my favorite two had heroes who had loved their ladies for years and finally had opportunities to win them over (Laurens and LaFoy). The other two were okay, but I found myself impatient for the "misunderstanding" to work itself out.

I had never read LaFoy before this book; I was impressed enough that I'm going to put her on my list to check out once I've exhausted all my TBR's; it could be YEARS!

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthology of four typical happily ever after historical romances. It was an entertaining reading.

[Lea Bookjoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wedding Knight" by Celeste Bradley
Here we meet again with great pleasure Kitty Trapp, one of the silly twins that we had discovered in the Liar's Club, which has really grown up ...
To restore the honor of his family, Alfred Knight had to ask the hand of Bitty Trapp and of course she accepted ... Or at least that's what everyone thought. Except that the wedding day, Bitty fled and to avoid a scandal, her sister Kitty is forced to take her place. After all, Bitty should quickly return to senses. Except that Bitty didn't come back and Kitty found increasingly difficult to resist her dark but terribly handsome "husband" ...
What a big surprise to discover that Kitty, who had always seemed to be just a silly little girl, had become a stubborn young woman, charming, with a devastating humor and terribly brave =) I also liked Knight who under his austere side, has a sense of humor and an irresistible seducer side x)
I wanted the story to be longer but hey it's my addicted side ><

[Betzacosta Betzacosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me encantan las antologias!
la segunda y la tercera fueron mis favoritas :D
no leo mucho peliculas de época, pero si leyera este serían las que me gustan, romance, pasión y cortas :D

[Modesty_b · Rating 3 out of 5]

i actually read this for wedding knight story but enjoyed every one of them. I've been long wanting to read kitty's story and it was as good if not better than i was expecting :)

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going as I'm reading:

Story 1: The Lady and the Tiger by Christina Dodd (3 stars)
Overall, I liked the story! I might have to start/restart exploring her books! However, at the beginning the relationship between Laura and Keefe was a little off feeling to me. While I know relationships during the Victorian time frame had very little to do with what the woman wants- the beginning where Laura is unsure she wants the physical relationship could be upsetting to someone who has been sexually abused in the past- just as a heads up. But looking past that I did enjoy the story and I really loved the spy aspect of it.

Story 2: Melting Ice by Stephanie Laurens (5 stars)
This is the whole reason I'm reading this book and it did NOT disappoint. I love Stephanie Laurens' writing so much, she really pulls you into the story. Her female protagonists are strong willed and not afraid to say what they want or do what they believe is right. And while her male protagonists can be annoyingly arrogant- that's usually an important part to the story. Another winner for me!

Story 3: Wedding Knight by Celeste Bradley (5 stars)
Ahhh, it's been so long since I read a Celeste Bradley book I forgot how much I love her writing! This is another great story that sucks you in. I was chuckling a large portion of the story- which I adore in books. I love books that make me laugh. The story in this one is so strong and sweet.

Story 4: The Proposition by Leslie LaFoy (4 stars)
I found another author! This was another sweet story that was super fun to read! I was chuckling and ended with a very happy sigh- I love happy endings.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful anthology! Two favorite authors and two "new to me" authors delivered an entertaining read. The Dodd novella was one of her older ones and somewhat of a slow starter but good at the end. The Laurens novella was great. New to me author Celeste Bradley's novella was a wonderful surprise....romantic and laugh out loud funny. I will be looking for other of her works. I also enjoyed the final one by Leslie LaFoy.

[Sara Reads (mostly) Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant introduction to some authors I haven't tried yet! The first and third were really good! I was not expecting to enjoy it that much. The second was HOT AF, like sizzling, tbh I only read those scene and skipped over the plot lol. Haven't tried the fourth but I'll get around to it

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anthologies.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed every one of these steamy stories. My favourite is Melting Ice by Stephanie Laurens.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lady and the Tiger - Christina Dodd - 3/5 - Laura Haver is tracking down her brother's killer. She ends up tracking Keefe Leighton, Earl of Hamilton to a smuggling ring and all evidence points to him being the killer. He'd been a friend, her brother's employer and now he was the enemy in her eyes. There's some forcible seduction - it's not really forced but it certainly is coerced. It didn't really bother me. But I didn't really feel like she loved him and I couldn't get a good read on him either. This was just a so-so story for me and I think it might have been better if it had been a full length story.

Melting Ice - Stephanie Laurens - 3/5 - This one had the potential to be a really good story. Dyan, Duke of Darke (yikes!) has returned from being overseas for 15 years - one of the things that caused him to run was the loss of his chances with his childhood friend, Fiona. These two encounter each other at a soiree and have to work out their past to realize a future. There's some bitterness between these two as they caused some hurt in the past. Unfortunately, in their drive to have as much sex as possible, the communication and loose ends were not dealt with. I felt like there needed to be more resolution of their past before the happy ending. That's the only reason it didn't get 4 stars - otherwise a really nice story.

Wedding Knight - Celeste Bradley - 3/5 - Kitty is a twin. Her sister is marrying stuffy and logical Mr. Knight, but is terrified of crowds and asks Kitty to go down the aisle for her. When Kitty comes back after the wedding, her sister, Bitty, is missing. And so, Kitty must continue to pretend to be Mrs. Knight until her sister shows up. This might have been 4 stars if the heroine and her sister weren't named Kitty and Bitty (eek!) and if the love scenes had held more emotion and depth. Also the ending was really abrupt - I would have loved another paragraph with a kiss or something in the reunion . This really was a very clever and witty book. The banter between them and the constant trying to out wit the other in order to get their way was really amusing. I love how Mr. Knight's Christian name is Alfred Theodious (Alfred The Odious).

The Proposition - Leslie LaFoy - 5/5 - Awesome story! This had many elements of romance that I tend not to like, so initially I was very reluctant to like it. Julia is a widow who is engaged to be married (and she has two teenage children at 33). She is floored by the realization that Rennick St. James has returned to London - he is one of her dead husband's closest friends and they have loved one another from afar (they were never unfaithful) for 13 years. Still, he is a rake...and he freely accepts it. And Julia is the woman he'd give it all up for. But that past comes back to haunt him, since, as much as she loves him, she cannot trust that he will be faithful, that he won't break her heart. I like how this was executed. I've often had similar doubts about rakes in stories and how a woman could simply let that sexual history go. Julia refuses to overlook it and Rennick comes to realize that he regrets it. And he does feel the guilt, the remorse and the pain (as does Julia). It was so deliciously angsty as well. So I give it 5 stars - my only complaint was that the final scene needed a bit more emotional punch, but I can see why it had to be done the way it was.

[Gaylina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly good stories in this. That’s why I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5. A few were really cute while others could have been better. All Great authors. I’m partial to the books that have 3 or 4 authors in them. I’d like to see them more even in the pages the authors are allotted. That’s why I buy them. It’s just s matter of taste.

[Mojca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit to buying this book because the cover bore Christina Dodd's name, but her story The Lady and the Tiger was a huge disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I love steamy scenes, but there were too many crammed up in a novella. Instead of exploring the spy plot more fully, Ms. Dodd concentrated on the lead couple's sexapades at times plunging the plot into weak chick-porn.

Stephanie Laurens's Melting Ice was a pleasant surprise. There was still enough steam to boil Chinese dumplings, but at least she gave her characters an extremely believable back story that made the reader root for the two to finally clear the humongous misunderstanding and have their deserved HEA.

Celeste Bradley's Wedding Knight was a delight to read. Though the premise was quite outrageous to begin with, the plot was charming, the two leads at first glance complete opposites, yet so similar. Maybe the "mystery" took a little too long to unravel, resulting in a hasty, rather patched-up ending, but still, this story was an endearing one. It most definitely put Ms. Bradley on my map.

Leslie LaFoy's The Proposition is another little gem in this quartet of novellas. It's a bittersweet and poignant take on "the second chance" everyone deserves yet few get. Rennick's words "I'll wait for you, Julia. For as long as I must." give additional emotional weight to the already deep story of second chances and the difference between forgiving and forgetting, yet ending up doing both.

[Jane Davis]

Another delight novella by Stephanie Laurens, Melting Ice, does what she does so well, brings former lovers back together in a situation where they have a chance to fall in love again. Dyan St. Laurent Dare and his reputation are back in England. He had spent the past 10 years in India.

Not too happy with his family's demands he accepts and invitation to a weekend house party. He is shocked when he arrives to find Lady Fiona Winton-Ryder there. This not the type of house party for unmarried ladies. She thought she was there to help a friend but when the debauchery starts Dyan gets her out of there fast. She is who he has always wanted and she is here. He has the night to persuade her that she wants him. Stephanie could go lighter on the sex but this is a four star.

I enjoyed Leslie LaFoy's The Proposition. Another story of long ago love and a woman who wants to play it safe rather than going with her heart. Her children Rerrick St. James' side and win out in the end.

I didn't care for The Lady and the Tiger or Wedding Knight.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love historical romance and anthologies, this is the one for you. In these four stories, there's a couple coming together, an obstacle between them, and a scandal, one way or another, with a happy ending. In The Lady and the Tiger by Christina Dodd, Laura Haver avenge her brother's dead, and pretends to be Keefe Leighton's bride. In Melting Ice by Stephanie Laurie, Dyan will do anything to make Fiona Winston-Ryder melt and burn, a woman who wanted to be his bride in the past, and even now. In Wedding Knight by Celeste Bradley, Kitty "Katrina" Trapp poses as her twin sister, Bitty, on her wedding night, and falls in love with Knight, when the switch is revealed. And in The Proposition by Leslie LaFoy, Rennick St. James has three days to seduce Julia Hamilton, a widow with two grown children, to be his, before her wedding day. This is good for a quick read and to introduce you to Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Celeste Bradley, and Leslie LaFoy's work. I'll be reading Dodd, Bradley and LaFoy in the near future.

[Mayu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi reseña de este precioso e increíblemente maravilloso relato de Celeste Bradley:

http://mayuamoraprimeravista.blogspot...

Me ha encantado muchísimo redescubrir este maravilloso relato. Noche de bodas es una joyita perfecta de la que me he enamorado totalmente. Y además, mil veces más que la primera vez que lo leí.

Aish, es que Noche de bodas es un relato precioso, conmovedor, intenso, sorprendente, fabuloso, maravilloso, romántico, tremendamente sensual, divertido, creativo, y diferente. Un soplo de aire lleno de dulzura, química, y envuelto en lazos de seda y magia. Teñido de un ambiente propio de los cánones de 1813, y con un algo audaz que le conecta con el presente.

Noche de bodas es un relato chispeante, delicioso, casi perfecto. ¿Y por qué casi perfecto? Pues porque nos deja con muchas, muchas ganas de más (LL).

[Bárbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 estrellas
Claramente, la extensión de estas historias no permite un buen desarrollo, ni de los personajes, ni de los hechos, y por eso todo se siente "en pañales".
La historia que más me ha gustado ha sido Noche de bodas, principalmente por su humor. Me ha recordado a esas historias de Julie Garwood arranca-carcajadas.
La peor ha sido La dama y el tigre: el insta-lust disfrazado de insta-love nunca podrá gustarme.
Lady Ártico y La proposición resultan creíbles gracias a que los personajes principales se conocen y se parte de un reencuentro; claramente es la fórmula correcta para este formato.
Creo que deberé leer una romántica histórica como corresponde para satisfacer mi corazoncito enamoradizo. Tal vez Lisa Kleypas...

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

These stories were ok, just not outstanding. I don't even know which one I liked the best....or least! Wedding Knight was so weird I actually don't know if I loved it or hated it. I find the 15 years of misunderstanding between the couple in Melting Ice just plain irritiating. In The Proposition, Julia would sleep with Rennick, she just wouldn't trust him...not real credible. And parts of The Lady and the Tiger were just silly...and of course the title was goofy....

[Serena Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

EL TIGRE Y LA DAMA, este relato no ha estado mal, pero tampoco bien... me ha sido indiferente, mi nota un 5.

LADY ARTICO, el relato que mas me ha gustado, me ha gustado mucho que se vuelvan a reencontrar, mi nota un 7.5

NOCHE DE BODAS, a mi tanto rollo con las gemelas no me van, aun asi ha sido entretenido, mi nota un 6

LA PROPOSICION, tambien me ha gustado bastante asi que un 6.5

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid romance all set in Victorian London, England. I had never read these authors before and thought it would be a good way to sample them. My favorite was the second (Stephanie Laurens, Melting Ice) cause I actually did not like the female protagonist when the story began, but the writing was a notch above for the sex scenes and I enjoyed the story and liked her by the end.

[Romance Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually with compilations, there are one or two that I really like, one that I really don't like and one that I'm totally indifferent to. But with this one? I really liked them all, except Dodd's--I'm not a big fan of her writing.

[suzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. Especially the last story. Too much sex, very little character building and plots I have no appreciation of. The only story I enjoyed was the third one, Wedding Knight. Just for the banter between the Mr. and the Mrs. And the knife throwing of course.

[Deborah Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

too much sex, too little story. And really? Seduction isn't love and doesn't lead to love.

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was only interested in reading the Christina Dodd story in this collection, and for early work of an author, it was pretty good.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an OK read . . . nothing special.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romance anthology, read it for the story by Stephanie Laurens.

[Theresa]

Melting Ice is one of my all time Stephanie Laurens favorites...totally worth the read for that story alone!!

[Alisa- I like happy endings. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only read the first two stories. It was meh.