Lessons from a Scandalous Bride

Forgotten Princesses #2

by Sophie Jordan

A life can change in an instant...

No one knows this better than Miss Cleopatra Hadley, who went from poverty to plenty when she discovered one of England's richest men was her true father who wanted her to share his wealth...if she married into the upper echelons of Society. A high price to pay for someone whose mother taught her just how dangerous a marriage could be.

An imposing yet impoverished Scots nobleman, Lord Logan McKinney knows he must wed some vapid title-hunter with a substantial dowry in order to restore his once-thriving estate. Having the vibrant Cleo nearby, however, makes his task even more unpalatable—for she tempts him like no other woman...just as he's precisely the sort of man she most fears: exciting, unpredictable, fiercely passionate. But when attraction proves too powerful, they succumb to a kiss that quickly leads to lessons too scandalous for even the darkest nights.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Adult, Fiction

344 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 31, 2012

About the author

Pseudonym:
Sharie Kohler

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ms. Jordan, sorry, 2 stars, and I am being kind.

I am at 91% and I consider the book read. Honestly I had reached this conclusion at 50% but thought I must give credit to the author and at least see what happens after they decided to get married.

Well, nothing happened.

Cleo refused to have sex. Hero (can't even remember his name now and I read this book yesterday.) tried and must have her or he would die of erection. Then Cleo went crazy and acted like some slut high on drug and played with his private part. Then Cleo saw him with another girl, acted stupid and felt betrayed (why????? woman you won't sleep with him anyways). then crazy Cleo flipped out and wanted to go back to London. On the way she wanted to go back to Logan (oh my god his name is Logan!!!) Logan was hurt while repairing the castle. Cleo arrived and helped dig him out. There, 91%, I can't imagine what plots could magically saved this pathetic story. 9% is sadly too late and too little.I felt I had to let go. This is not a good story.

[Sophie Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

xoxo,
Sophie

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

To sum it up, Logan was dreamy and Cleo became a bit of an indecisive ninny. Here's why.

Sophie Jordan is a new author for me. Her writing is pretty simple, but she tells a great story. This one started off gothic and very compelling. Cleo had a very rough childhood and a clear reason for why she wanted to marry an elderly earl. Logan is responsible for his Scottish Earldom and has to marry for money to save it. They meet through an acquaintance and sparks immediately fly. Logan discovers that he wants Cleo and singlemindedly pursues her, even though Cleo, while attracted to him, makes it clear she is not interested in marriage to him.

As with many books in this genre, they are caught in a compromising position and forced to marry. This is where the book loses some steam. Up to this point, the sexual tension, banter, and secondary characters had created some intrigue and fun dialogue. However, some of the drama up to this point then just disappears. There were plot threads that had been built up, but just come to nothing. Therefore, we are left with 35% of the story being about Logan, a noble, undeniably attractive hero, struggling to understand Cleo, who cannot make up her mind, despite the evidence that says she should not be fearful. While her reasoning at the beginning of the story made sense, as she got to know Logan, I thought she hung on to her fears too long and it became very annoying. Logan even figured out what is bothering her and reassures her, and she still freaks out.

We meet Cleo in the first book of this series and she came across as poised and a little quiet. She was not like that in this book so it was a bit of a letdown. Overall, this book wasn't bad, but Cleo's character was not very likeable late in the book. I really liked Logan and his bluntness, sexuality, and perceptiveness. I think that's why it made it hard for me to like Cleo. I could not understand why a guy that attractive could fall for a woman so annoying.

We meet the third sister in this book and I'll be continuing with the series. Just be aware you will be a bit frustrated in this story and you may still enjoy, if only to read about Logan. Yum.

[Vashti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleopatra aka Cleo is another of Jack Hadley's illegit daughters,there is a total of four, each with different women.He comes into each of his daughters lives when they are grown and he wants to make good marriages for them and provide them with a dowry.
This is Cleo's and Logan's story.Logan is an impoverished Scottish Lord who needs to find a rich wife to help him restore his castle and provide a better life for his siblings.He has a candidate in mind.Cleo vows that she will not end up like her mother who was an unwed mother and who is now a baby maker to fourteen live children and a few that have died.Her stepfather is a mean cruel man.
These two meet at the opera and sparks fly instantly.Cleo is there with the elderly Earl she plans on marrying and Logan is there with the young woman whom he plans to wed. After the couple is caught in a compromising situation,they go to Scotland and marry.
What I liked about this story is how Logan was the one who is so persistant in going after Cleo after she repeatedly rebuffs him.Logan was described so deliciously,I could just hear that sexy accent and picturing this strong,virle Scot who does not take the word no for an answer.I enjoyed this read.Annalise ,the last sister to be found,her story is up next,looking forward to that one also.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Near gothic beginning with the elderly titled lecher - very fun! Then things took a turn for the dumb and boring.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Cleopatra Hadley grew up impoverished with her mother and stepfather and has just delivered yet another stillborn babe to be buried when she vows to never be at the mercy of a man, never let her body betray her. When her birth father suddenly appears in her life, she goes with him in exchange for enough money to keep her mother and all her siblings in a decent life. A bit of time passes and Cleo has begun a campaign to wed a doddering old earl, in part to please her father with the English title he so wants in his family but more since she knows her marriage will unlikely be consummated. Her plans go awry though when a Scottish man appears and tempts her body and her heart. With the threat of harm coming to her siblings if she does not marry and pay more money quickly and a jealous nephew also at her neck, how can Cleo let go of the past to embrace a happy future?

Lord Logan McKinney needs to marry an heiress quickly to help his family and his falling down castle. He had decided on a lady, and while she will do, she does not stir his blood like the delightful Cleo. Once he meets Cleo, he knows she is the one for him. Convincing Cleo that the attraction that burns between them proves to be very difficult but Logan uncovers the clues surrounding Cleo's instance of a loveless marriage and takes steps to protect her and her family. But when circumstances force the couple together before Cleo is ready to let Logan in, can Logan find a way to show Cleo that love is possible as well respect or will Cleo's fear override her heart until it is too late?

Oh, what a delightful, witty, sexy book! The attraction between Cleo and Logan just leaps off the pages! But I admired Cleo for standing firm with her beliefs and also with her knowledge that she was soon to be engaged to another man. She refuses to let herself fall for a man, just to be used physically and emotionally as she can not stand the toll it has taken on her poor mother and wants to do whatever she can to provide for them, even if it means sacrificing her happiness. The beginning of this story is very sad and sets up Cleo wonderfully. Her dedication to her family and to herself was a delight to read and I loved when Logan arrived and upended all her careful plans. Cleo continues to push Logan away and that got a bit tiring at times but Logan was persistent and was the perfect man to break down her defenses. I loved the epilogue, it brought happy tears to my eyes, but I would have liked to have seen more resolved with Cleo family situation and I also thought her change of heart was just a tad abrupt. The ending is fast paced and exciting and I breezed through this book and was disappointed that I had to let go of these characters already! Overall, a wonderful romance that is sure to make you smile, laugh, sigh and cheer. 4 stars

Review copy provided by Avon through edelweiss.com

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kind of wondering if the title here was meant for a different book because Cleo isn't really scandalous. She actually does everything in her power to be as conventional as possible. I think a more apt title would be 'Lessons from a Scandalous Groom', but that doesn't have the same wham bam attention grabber.

I was enjoying this book up until the actual marriage (does that count as a spoiler since the title involves bride?). Cleo was a little frustrating with her constant internal admonitions to avoid her mother's fate, but her verbal sparring with Logan made up for that. Things got a bit contrived feeling to get them married, but that was more or less on purpose so that's swept aside.

The marriage though? For such a practical, worldly girl such as Cleo she had to be the biggest blockhead ever. What followed was the most absurd farce that I wasn't sure if Jordan meant it to be funny or not.

Cleo has her hang-ups about intimacy (or rather, getting pregnant) that can be understandable if it wasn't for the fact that she equates everything with possibly ending up like her mother.  Logan makes her feel breathless--OH NO SHE MAY END UP LIKE HER MOTHER.  Logan sends her a smouldering look--OH NO SHE MAY END UP LIKE HER MOTHER.  Logan kisses her and sets her blood boiling--OH NO SHE IS HER MOTHER FOR ENJOYING IT.  That is quite honestly how it happened.  If Logan so much as brushed his hand against hers, she would go into a panic and think that she'd end up like her mother.

Ignoring the fact that a) Logan said from the beginning of his seduction of her that he wanted a respectable marriage, b) he took every consideration for her personal well being and c) plenty of folks have children without the trauma she was fearing.  It only got worse after her marriage.  She seemed to be coming to some sort of realization, but wham!  She yanks that away quickly enough.  

Logan was extraordinarily patient for a guy who had to deal with such a ninny.  At least neither lamented the other not loving them, that was a relief.  I would have had to smack Cleo around if she wanted Logan to love her but her actions signaled everything but that.  I wouldn't have blamed him if he did set his sights elsewhere.

As for the ending...it was my least favorite kind of 'Realization of Love' trope.  ): Instead of having Cleo go off with her father and half-sister, arrive in London and realize what a complete ass she was being, then return to explain herself to Logan, the author has her realize halfway down the road, only to return and find Logan in a life or death situation.  At which point nothing else matters!  MUST SAVE HIM!  It was kind of pointless to put him in that situation since Cleo already realized her feelings.

After that I just couldn't take the romance anymore and left feeling sorely misused.

[Kerry Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plot summary: Lying, manipulative, inconsiderate, overbearing jackass finds happily ever after with a woman with an emotional arc consistent with severe psychiatric disorders (Why isn't he paying attention to me? DON'T TOUCH ME! How can he ignore me? OMG HE'S KISSING ANOTHER WOMAN! I can't resist your punishing kisses and rage sex! I'M LEAVING YOU! Oh, darling, I'll love you forever and ever!).

This book would not have been possible without repeated generous contributions from Inability To Communicate Like Mature Human Beings.

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleo was SO weak when it came to her hormones that I wanted to smack her through half of the book, but that aside, it was quite entertaining.

3.5/5

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is disappointing because it’s so predictable.

[Lisarenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Synopsis:

Cleopatra Hadley knew what it was to live a hard life. She knew what it was to live in poverty--to live without. She knew there were better ways to live then the life she led. Her stepfather kept her mother in a perpetual state of pregnancy, and they had fourteen children with another four lying in a neighboring cemetery to prove it. Cleo did what she could to help, but at times there wasn't enough to eat or enough money for them all to be properly clothed. Her own father had been out of the picture for as long as she could remember and she had all but forgotten him until the day he sent someone to "fetch" her home. Her mother encouraged her to go saying it'd be her chance at a better life. Cleo, however, saw it as a way to better the lives of her siblings as well. When she learned of her father's plans to marry her off to a man with a title, she knew exactly what type of man she wanted to marry. She'd long ago thrown away ideas of fairy tales, Prince Charming and happily ever afters. She was a realist and when she met Lord Thrumgoodie, an eighty year old fatherless Earl, she knew she'd met her perfect match.

Logan McKinney had a reputation as being "the perfect savage". He'd earned the reputation when he'd sliced a woman's stays with his sword when he realized she wasn't breathing properly. He was in London looking to marry an heiress so he could get his current estate out of disrepair. His problem, however, was that he found the woman of London society to be a bit too 'vapid' and 'feather headed' for his tastes. That was until he met Miss Cleo Hadley. He found her intriguing and down to earth. He saw her as not someone to be saddled with, but someone he could share a life with. Now he only had to convince her.

My Thoughts:

I really liked Cleo. She was a strong and independent woman who was very loyal to her family. She'd grown up with no male role models in her life and didn't know of anyone involved in a loving relationship or marriage. So when she entered the marriage market she knew exactly what she wanted in a husband and it wasn't love. She wanted security. When Logan McKinney, a young handsome Scottish lord, started pursuing her, she did all she could to discourage him even though she found him attractive. She'd set her cap set for Lord Thrumgoodie, and elderly gentleman with all rumors suggesting it would be a marriage in name only.

Logan was a fun character. I loved how he figured out Cleo early on and did all he could to dissuade her fears. He was the exact opposite of what Cleo thought she wanted in a husband. He was young, virile, attractive. Yeah, I know...What's wrong with her? lol But when you've grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, and you know what it's like to be hungry and to see your siblings perish because you couldn't afford medical treatment your priorities tend to differ from that of someone who has never wanted for anything. Plus, she was determined to make sure her mother's fate would not be hers. Qualities such as charm and good looks in a husband, after all, wouldn't pay the bills or put food on the table.

Why is the book named Lessons from a Scandalous Bride? Well, I believe it has to do, in part, with the fact Cleo finds herself amidst a scandal which leads to her becoming a bride. Also, in order for her marriage to work she needs to learn a few lessons. She needs to learn that not all men are the same and not all men are bad. She needs to learn not to let fear sabotage her future by dwelling on the 'what ifs' of life. Most importantly, she needs to learn to trust and lean on another individual--something she's never had the luxury of being able to do before. She's always had to be the strong one and look out for herself and everyone else in her family.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I liked how Cleo had to realize her feelings for Logan in her own time and in her own way. I enjoyed seeing her take a step back and decide what she thought of him and what she truly wanted. I loved how the chemistry between them was undeniable and got them into trouble. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

[Letitia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: B-/C+ ... Heat: Warm

Life has not been kind to Cleopatra Hadley or her family. When the story opens, Cleo is holding in her arms the body of yet another stillborn half-sibling. Cleo is charged with the harrowing task of taking the tiny body to the undertaker. This is a familiar occurrence for Cleo, who is her mother’s oldest daughter—one of fourteen living children and numerous that did not survive. Cleo’s life is filled with births and deaths, all at the hands of her stepfather and his rather… prodigious need to procreate.

When Cleo returns home, she finds her mother out of bed and entertaining a strange man who turns out to be a representative for her father—a man she doesn’t know and has never met. He is offering to give her mother enough coin to last the family two years… if Cleo agrees to come live with him. For her family’s sake, Cleo accepts the offer.

And then everything changes for Cleo—taking her from impoverished with no expectations to an heiress who must marry an English gentleman (her father’s request). As Cleo has no desire whatsoever for a handsome face or a virile body, she sets her sights on the elderly (see: octogenarian) Lord Thrumgoodie. As he is both feeble and frail—and couldn’t produce any heirs with his previous four wives—Cleo see’s him as safe from both consummation of the marriage and unwanted pregnancy.

Logan McKinney is the opposite of safe. Logan’s Scottish estate is in need of many repairs, so he is expected to marry an heiress. A seemingly easy task until he is introduced to the vapid ladies on the marriage mart. When Logan meets Cleo, he thinks she is the answer to his problems. And so he pursues her, cajoles and woos her. To say it isn’t an easy task is quite the understatement.

Nothing about Cleo is easy.

There are a great many things I loved about Lessons from a Scandalous Bride. Cleo is a clever and resourceful lady who happens to have the weight of the world (or, fourteen siblings and her mother) on her shoulders. Her sense of responsibility and selflessness was endearing. And then there is Logan, who is six feet plus of tall, dark, and handsome, and cares enough for his family and people to give up love for financial security. A man who won’t let Cleo hide behind her deeply rooted fears. I enjoyed the development of their feelings and Logan’s pursuit of Cleo. I even liked the way things played out with Lord Thrumgoodie.

But there was also a great sense of missed opportunities within the story. I believe the rush to resolve Logan and Cleo’s emotional stand-off at the end could have taken place earlier. I don’t think saving it for the last 20% worked well for this story. It didn’t leave enough time for me to truly believe in their ‘I love you’s’—not after such a long battle of wills. My other (and biggest) complaint is with the way things are resolved for Cleo’s half-siblings and mother… It didn’t feel right. Or natural. I don’t think Cleo would have waited that long to retrieve them. Or even just check on them. It was a great resolution, just oddly timed.

All in all, Miz Jordan gives us a wonderful romance with a rich sense of backstory—filled with tender and touching moments… and a hero and heroine you can’t help but cheer for.

Favorite Quote:
Cleo wrapped her arms around his neck and clung as if some great force might pull her away, separate them. Their mouth consumed each other, kissing, sucking…
He groaned her name. “I have to have you, Cleo…please…”

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review

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[Elis Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleopatra Hadley has good reasons to marry the decrepit but titled genteman she's angling for. She doesn't WANT a man who makes her mouth water. She's seen firsthand what happens to women who succumb to those feelings--and to their children. Her father wants her to marry a title, so she's picked the oldest and hopefully most impotent suitor possible.

As for Scottish Lord Logan McKinney, he's getting used to the idea that love won't be a factor in his marriage. His family and estate need money--lots and lots of it, and it's on him to marry it.

Of course, when their paths cross, Logan reckons that maybe he can have his cake and eat it too. Unfortunately, the "cake" in this case isn't awfully excited about the proposition--or is she?

There were a couple LOL moments in this. A favorite is this one-- the hero is getting a dressing-down from his sister for behaving in ways that reinforce society's view of Scots as barbarians. She takes him to task for carrying his dirk around, and the rest of the conversation goes like this:

“A certain marchioness was much grateful I was present to rescue her when she swooned.”

Fiona snorted and shook her head. “By slicing open her gown and stays.”

“Anyone could see she was blue from lack of air.”

I could just imagine the scene--a Regency ballroom, a stuffy marchioness keeling over (probably because of something he said or did to begin with) and this outrageous Scotsman--



--rushing in to save the day by slitting her corset strings--likely with such explosive effect bystanders risked losing eyes. Yeah, I probably read a lot of that into the dialogue. Still, it did make me laugh.

Anyway, I like Jordan and I like the premise of the series, so this one nearly got four stars. But the ending was a little too much like too many other stories for me, so I settled at three. It's an enjoyable read and you definitely should pick it up if you liked the first book in the series. But Jordan is capable of much, much better.

[Ash Ash · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Forgotten Princess series about the second Illegitimate daughter of Jack Hadley aka Cleo Hadley and Scottish Lord Logan McKinney .. Cleo lived with her mother, step father and step siblings until adulthood.. Jack Hadley searches for his illegitimate children and finally finds Cleo.. His man pays Cleo's Step father some money and takes away Cleo to London.. Jack wants Cleo to get married to a English nobleman with a title so he offers her a huge dowry to make her one of the most sought after debutante.. Cleo having seen her mother undergo pain of losing her children to illness and poverty and childbirth, she decides that she will not have children and will not fall in love with a man and have consummate her marriage.. Therefore she decides on getting married to an elderly Earl... She meets Lord Logan McKinney when he starts courting the elderly Earl's granddaughter.. Logan needs a heiress with substantial dowry as his estates have crumbled and therefore comes to England to find a heiress bride, he is not pleased or impressed with any of the debutantes and when he meets Cleo he can see that he has met his match he feels attraction towards her and can be comfortable with Cleo.. Finally he proposes to Cleo who refuses him in favor of the Earl.. Both of the are caught in a compromising position by the Earl's nephew who happens to be his heir who hates Cleo.. Then the two of them have to get married with Cleo being unhappy with the situation.. Logan accepts her terms that he will not get a heir and he cannot consummate the marriage.. They fall in love with each other and Cleo finally realizes that her situation is not necessarily like her mothers and agrees to have children.. Both of them live happy with all their siblings and children..

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! Talk about a hard luck story! This was such a great rags to riches tale that by the time I finished with it, I could have danced a jig!

One can safely say that Cleopatra Hadley was born under a lucky star but for many years it certainly didn’t feel like it to this wonderful girl. My heart was breaking as much as hers was while she takes yet another stillborn sibling to the undertaker.

As the oldest and one of fourteen living children and many that hadn’t survived, it has always fallen to her to see the ‘wee ones’ berried. She had done this so many times, that she knew for certain, that one day she’ll be burying her own mother next to one of her siblings. Her odious stepfather who only cared for his pleasures never gave a damn for his wife or their many children, and when the opportunity came for him to ‘sell’ his stepdaughter to a father she never knew, he jumped at it.

I liked this story because of its ....Thanks for hopping over to b2b to finish reading this review!

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Melanie for b2b.

*Book provided by the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Aspoon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Again, I say I CANNOT stand an overly strong minded heroine. I mean to the point you want to reach inside the book and slap some reality into her. A heroine like that makes it hard to feel any kind of sympathy for her and it makes it hard to believe that she could turn a complete 360 and feel love and romantic emotions for the man she is overly hostile and stubborn towards. This heroine (and I use the term loosely)…was annoying to no end, which basically took away from truly connecting to the hero because now you’re agitated. I couldn’t finish the book which is VERY rare for me. No matter how bad the book is, I usually finish it just because I dedicated too much time to it…so that should tell you that this book isn’t worth the time and trouble. Also, I wasn’t completely sure what time period this book was set in but the dialogue seemed so contemporary at times that it threw me off...I think the author was getting her contemporary and regency books mixed up. LOL

Of course this is my opinion and to the new readers of this book, you may very well like such a heroine… Good Luck and Happy Reading!

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad this story didn't waste any time on convoluted plots or deceptions. Instead I found a simple, straightforward storyline that focused on Cleo and Logan's budding romantic relationship and subsequent marriage. Cleo's background--an over large family steeped in poverty and rife with premature death--was original and fascinating. Her fear of being trapped in the same type of family life as her mother was real and a strong motivator to avoid marriage to any virile man and instead secure a marriage to a wealthy (for the sake of her mother and siblings) and elderly (for her own sake) man. Logan, too, was prepared to marry for money but changed gears somewhat when he recognized his attraction and growing feelings for Cleo as the better choice. All he had to do was get to the reason behind her fear.

This book was good reading with an exciting plot, sizzling sexual tension, and captivating lead couple. Recommended at four stars.

[Ana Carolina Barros · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT!

This was so-so. I wasn't expecting much anyway, I just wanted to travel to the reading world a little, without really caring for what I was reading.

Anyway, the male main character was cute, but there wasn't anything special about him. Handsome, tall, the perfect - and typical - Scottish lord we can find in most novels from this same genre. Logan was an ok character. Cleo, on the other hand... She was way too stubborn through the whole book, only complicating things that were way too simple. That got really tiring at some point. And the whole "I-saved-her-family-but-I-can't-tell-her" was pretty stupid, since everything she did had everything to do with the fact that she wanted the save her family which turned out to be already saved. WHAT.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lessons from a Scandalous Bride
3 Stars

The first book in this series is one of my rare five star reads, but this is a very poor follow up.

Cleo and Logan's romance has incredible potential. Unfortunately, neither one is particularly likable, and the drama and angst surrounding their prejudicial attitudes, reluctant attraction and marriage woes is just over the top.

The reasons for Cleo's aversion to sex are plausible enough, but the manner in which the issue is resolved is not at all believable.

All in all, rather disappointing and hopefully the last book will be better as I already have it for Kindle. I've really got to stop getting all of these Kindle sales that I ultimately put off reading.

[Debra Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest opinion. I am in no way obligated to give a glowing review. However, I am glad to give this one five stars because it was fantastic. Tugged at my emotions right from the start. I was actually wiping away tears as Cleo was carrying her infant brother to the graveyard. Wow! This story really was so emotional. The attraction between Cleo & Logan sizzled. They just couldn't deny the chemistry between them no matter that they both started out with different intentions. Great ending. Read this one for yourself .... you won't be disappointed.

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute read. Scottish hero, English Heroine who saw her mother have many babies, many who died and is afraid of love, afraid to become her mother.We see into the thoughts of both characters and root for them both. This is the 2nd in the Forgotten Princesses. !st is about Greir, Wicked in your arms. #rd is I presume about Annalise, How to lose a bride in a night. They are 1/2 sisters. I am now going to search for those to read. However, the story about the 1st sister is in another series, Wicked nights of a lover. Read it 1st if you are going to read the series, as it sets up the characters.l

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a decent historical read, but I wanted more from it than there was. Cleo was selfish, to my way of thinking, only believing in one aspect of marriage, one of the worst ones she could. Logan was an unapologetic hero, but he was also a bit of a jerk too, only wanting Cleo's surrender. Neither of them attempted to understand the other, and yet they enter a marriage based on lust alone! I was not surprised she wanted to leave! It was entertaining enough for a Sunday afternoon, but I'm hesitant to read further in the series.

[Golden Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

July 17, 2017 I read and finished three books well with some skimming actually....
1. Lord Havelock's List (morning till afternoon)
2. Mr. Cavendish, I presume ( mid afternoon till evening)
3. Lessons From a Scandalous Bride (midnight - dawn)

to be honest I mostly Skimmed then for one same reason I want to know the ending immediately and the story as well as fast as I could.... It doesn't mean this three books are awful... actually there quite good but I finish them so fast because I was skipping some parts as well ...

For this book the reason for skipping some parts is :
There's OM at the beginning the man the heroine intended to marry before she met the hero..... and it made my stomach flip thinking about the thoughts of it.... I can't help imagining the heroine being touch (I mean affectionate touch, leching touch any touch at all except sex) by an old man... ewwwww I feel disgusted by the thoughts of it so I literally skipped those parts and never looked back even if I miss some information.... I just don't care about him ... the mere mentioning of his name makes me cringe.....

To be fair I read all the chapters after her engagement to that man ended.. I feel a fresh air coming into my system lol.... and I thought everything's going to be smooth now..... But nope it's not haizzzzzt..... then I say okay just be patient read more maybe the heroine would get into her senses... but still no.. her fear is real.. I don't like the thoughts of burying my younger siblings.... but I hope she had tried .... she let her fear ate her and it feels like eternity ..
and then there's that awful minx who had undying love for her husband.... I should just laugh about it and say hahaha nope the hero is soooo head over heels for Cleo for this Mary woman to get in the way then ... they kissed... or according to the hero the OW kissed him.... and she sees it... *sigh* and well it is a rocky hill again.. :) I am not hating it I love the authors style of writing and the emotion is really there... but I exert too much emotion that I don't like what it made me after

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I love Sophie Jordan's writing and this was the first of her historical novels I've read. I was so excited to read it because I'd heard so many good things about them. However, I was bored at the beginning and found the whole book to be rather slow. There was a constant back and forth between the main characters on whether they were attracted to one another or not, and there were so few times they actually admitted to it! Yet at the end on the book they were in love and were going to live happily ever after.

There were other characters in the book that I was very curious about and will happily read their books. Sadly, this just wasn't the book for me. The overall quality of writing was very good, and is why I'm giving this a 3.5 star instead of a 2.5 star review.

I would still recommend reading Jordan's historical novels if you are a fan of her writing. I think most of them are probably wonderful, this one just didn't do it for me.

[Cait M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had great spots and not-so-great spots. I enjoyed it more than the first in the series, but the pacing felt off. The MCs had definite insta-lust going on, but the heroine had some deep-seated (and I felt, very legitimate) fears about marriage and losing her bodily autonomy. At times, these fears were validated by the hero, while at other times he completely ignored them.

After seeing her mother repeatedly becoming pregnant, and often experiencing stillbirth or the early deaths of her half-siblings, Cleo is content to marry an ailing 80-year-old earl who will not trouble her with unwanted advances. Of course, when Cleo meets dashing Scotsman Logan he is instantly drawn to heiress Cleo (but for more than purely mercenary reasons) and she is attracted against her better judgement.

This book contains descriptive love scenes. I felt that some of the hero's advances had consent issues.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t bad but parts were sort of annoying. A woman grows up impoverished by her stepfather, who again and again impregnates his wife—her mother—but refuses to support her or the children, and the woman Cleo keeps taking the stillborn and dead children to be buried. Eventually her wealthy blood father returns wishing to raise her. When she enters society, she decides to marry an elderly man for safety and to ensure she does not experience the same abuse as her mother. Enter a Scottish Lord named Logan, who is looking to wed an heiress to protect the estate. He finds a ridiculous socialite but then meets Cleo and is smitten. She too is attracted but fears turning into her mother. That’s the part that bugged me. I know she was fun-shy, but the continued turning away from Logan felt more like a plot device than actual character turmoil.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleo is an unexpected heiress, thanks to the wealthy father who recently tracked her down, and thanks to her troubled upbringing, she’s determined to marry only for convenience. Logan is a Scottish lord in need of a wife and funds (preferably at the same time). He is determined to convince the lovely Cleo that they should marry, but she is reluctant to trust any man with her heart.

There’s a lot of drama here, and even though I was pretty sure things would work out, it was quite stressful at times. I enjoyed it, though. Sophie Jordan knows how to tell an exciting story.

[Kelsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read some bad books lately. But they were self published Kindle books- I expected bad. But from a good author? This was highly disappointing. Cleo was a bitch right up till the end. Her supposed concern for her siblings felt fake. We didn't see their relationships, didn't learn their names, nothing. Hell, she never even finds out Logan sent her stepfather away.

Also I had the weirdest sense of deja vu while finishing this book. Like I'd read the last 25% before. Very odd.

[Ashley Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the hero. The heroine was a little annoying. Her attitude was just so inconsistent. Oh I want him, but I can't. But I need to! But I wont! blech. It took to the last pages for her to get it together. I understand her fears, but come on. Also, really wish we had seen more of her siblings and her mother at the end, instead of for a hot minute at the epilogue. Overall enjoyed this book, really starting to like this author.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mediocre and a bit frustrating

An ok story. Nothing to jump up and down about but it had it's endearing moments.
Cleo really got on my nerves but I kinda if understand why she was the way she was. Coming from a life like hers, no one could blame her. But goodness, I just felt like she was potentially ruining everything.
But all well that ends well, and this story definitely did.