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Regency Rogues #5
The Scoundrel Takes a Bride
Lady Sophie Afton wants one thing and one thing only: Revenge against the man who ruthlessly killed her mother fifteen years before. Painstakingly preparing herself for the task and awaiting just the right moment, she approaches Lord Carmichael armed with the skills required of a spy and the knowledge that the Corinthians have reached an impasse in her mother’s case despite all the progress made by her dear friend Viscount Hardwicke. The Rook was only the beginning. Another man cut her mother’s throat, but it will take a woman to bring his identity to light.
Carmichael cannot refuse her. And just at the moment Sophie believes she’s on the cusp of experiencing the defining moment of her life, Nicholas Young appears. The younger brother of her betrothed, Nicholas had disappeared years before into the wild of the East Indies, where, if rumors were to be believed, he’d made his fortune through questionable means. In truth, Sophie had given little thought to her childhood friend. Until now. There was no denying that she adored Langdon Young, Nicholas’s older brother and the man she was meant to marry. But the moment Nicholas stalks back into her life, Sophie knows she will never belong to another. His touch inspires desire, his kisses need, and his skin on hers brands Sophie for life.
Aided by her Corinthian counterparts, with Nicholas at her side, Sophie delves into the dangerous depths of the London crime world in search of what she’s longed for her entire life. Or is it? Can revenge mean more than love?
Carmichael cannot refuse her. And just at the moment Sophie believes she’s on the cusp of experiencing the defining moment of her life, Nicholas Young appears. The younger brother of her betrothed, Nicholas had disappeared years before into the wild of the East Indies, where, if rumors were to be believed, he’d made his fortune through questionable means. In truth, Sophie had given little thought to her childhood friend. Until now. There was no denying that she adored Langdon Young, Nicholas’s older brother and the man she was meant to marry. But the moment Nicholas stalks back into her life, Sophie knows she will never belong to another. His touch inspires desire, his kisses need, and his skin on hers brands Sophie for life.
Aided by her Corinthian counterparts, with Nicholas at her side, Sophie delves into the dangerous depths of the London crime world in search of what she’s longed for her entire life. Or is it? Can revenge mean more than love?
304 pages, ebook
First published October 30, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 19, 2012
2.5 stars
This isn’t a bad book by any means. It just required a rather larger than normal suspension of disbelief on my part than I usually like. And by that, I mean that yes, there is always a sense of knowing that this or that heroine could not really have acted in such a way at the time that the book is set for fear of transgressing the very strict rules governing society – but it’s fiction after all, so there always has to be a certain degree of forbearance on the part of the reader. Yet some novels require a higher level of tolerance than others, and this is one of them.
Principally, I found it very difficult to accept that Sophia would have been allowed to have the degree of contact with the Bow Street Runners that she has in the novel, or that she would be allowed to work with them, even in the context of doing a bit of office work! This is the early 1800s and Sophia is a Lady; as such, she would have been barred from any such contact or occupation, regardless of the fact that she wants to track down her mother's murderer.
Then there's the fact that Sophia has been engaged to one man since she was a child, but has fallen in love with his brooding and handsome brother. I have no problem with that as a plot provided there is either :
a)good reason for the heroine to betray him (i.e, he's violent, a drunkard, shagging his way around London, etc.) or
b) the couple find a way to let him down gently and accept that he might not want to be around them for a while.
But neither of those is the case in this book; in fact,what struck a really false note with me was the fact that Sophia was so confident about sleeping with Nicholas (the broody, handsome brother). Nicholas is naturally reluctant to betray his brother, who is a decent and kind man, but Sophia makes all the running, talking about how she wants Langton (her fiancé) to be happy, even though she is not the one who will be able to make him so. Yet the next day, she’s crying and says she can’t bear to think of how Langton will feel once he finds out about her and Nicholas. The next day, she has a panic attack in Langton’s presence because he’s talking about setting a wedding date – but that night, is happy to shag Nicholas again, telling him she needs him inside her because she’s had an upsetting day.
Erm…
I confess I haven't read the earlier books in this series, and having read the synopses, it seems that the book immediately before this, The Saint Who Stole My Heart, is closely linked to this one. A group of gentleman spies, the Young Corinthians, is on the tail of The Bishop, a notorious London gangland boss, whom Sophia and Nicholas discover had a hand in her mother's death. The reveal, when it comes, is rather a let-down, and clearly there are threads left handing for another book, which I imagine will feature Sophia's jilted fiancé.
I can't, hand-on-heart, say that I liked or disliked this book - it was just... "there". I didn't feel that I was pulled right into the story, and I wasn't particularly drawn to either of the protagonists. I don't know if that is because I was preoccupied with that whole "suspension of disbelief" issue, or if it was something else, but I'm afraid this story just didn't do anything for me.
With thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy.
This isn’t a bad book by any means. It just required a rather larger than normal suspension of disbelief on my part than I usually like. And by that, I mean that yes, there is always a sense of knowing that this or that heroine could not really have acted in such a way at the time that the book is set for fear of transgressing the very strict rules governing society – but it’s fiction after all, so there always has to be a certain degree of forbearance on the part of the reader. Yet some novels require a higher level of tolerance than others, and this is one of them.
Principally, I found it very difficult to accept that Sophia would have been allowed to have the degree of contact with the Bow Street Runners that she has in the novel, or that she would be allowed to work with them, even in the context of doing a bit of office work! This is the early 1800s and Sophia is a Lady; as such, she would have been barred from any such contact or occupation, regardless of the fact that she wants to track down her mother's murderer.
Then there's the fact that Sophia has been engaged to one man since she was a child, but has fallen in love with his brooding and handsome brother. I have no problem with that as a plot provided there is either :
a)good reason for the heroine to betray him (i.e, he's violent, a drunkard, shagging his way around London, etc.) or
b) the couple find a way to let him down gently and accept that he might not want to be around them for a while.
But neither of those is the case in this book; in fact,what struck a really false note with me was the fact that Sophia was so confident about sleeping with Nicholas (the broody, handsome brother). Nicholas is naturally reluctant to betray his brother, who is a decent and kind man, but Sophia makes all the running, talking about how she wants Langton (her fiancé) to be happy, even though she is not the one who will be able to make him so. Yet the next day, she’s crying and says she can’t bear to think of how Langton will feel once he finds out about her and Nicholas. The next day, she has a panic attack in Langton’s presence because he’s talking about setting a wedding date – but that night, is happy to shag Nicholas again, telling him she needs him inside her because she’s had an upsetting day.
Erm…
I confess I haven't read the earlier books in this series, and having read the synopses, it seems that the book immediately before this, The Saint Who Stole My Heart, is closely linked to this one. A group of gentleman spies, the Young Corinthians, is on the tail of The Bishop, a notorious London gangland boss, whom Sophia and Nicholas discover had a hand in her mother's death. The reveal, when it comes, is rather a let-down, and clearly there are threads left handing for another book, which I imagine will feature Sophia's jilted fiancé.
I can't, hand-on-heart, say that I liked or disliked this book - it was just... "there". I didn't feel that I was pulled right into the story, and I wasn't particularly drawn to either of the protagonists. I don't know if that is because I was preoccupied with that whole "suspension of disbelief" issue, or if it was something else, but I'm afraid this story just didn't do anything for me.
With thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy.
October 30, 2018
"We humans cannot manage to breathe without destroying.”
August 10, 2012
Well if I don't love my latest book, who will?
January 15, 2018
I think title totally missed the mark. Whole book read more like a mystery novel than it did as romance. Was not that impressed.
January 4, 2013
A version of this review also appears on Reading with Analysis.
I feel a bit ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, I wanted to like it because its heroine is a smart, driven woman who meets her fate head on, pursues interests beyond the typical historical romance female purview –- needlepoint, shopping, and talking about men –- and, furthermore, excels in her pursuits and earns the respect of the male characters. That is heady stuff. On the other hand, I had a lot of issues with pretty much everything else about the book, including its pacing, character/story development, and the romance between Sophia and Nicholas, and however much I wanted to, I didn’t like it at all.
In the early chapters, my main issue with the book is that it assumed that I knew who the hell the characters were, and I didn’t. The problem seems to derive from this book being the fifth in a series. Characters from the prior novels are mentioned but not introduced. When I scanned through the reviews of the previous novels, I encountered similar observations. This problem is not new to the fifth book, it would seem. Who/what are the Young Corinthians? Who is Lord Carmichael? I don’t know! Apparently you have to read books 1-4 in order to form a clear idea.
My other problems with this book mostly stem from the implausible romance between Sophia and Nicholas. Sophia goes from stoically accepting a life without passion as Langdon’s wife to getting naked with Nicholas way too fast. She’s like, “Wow, you mean you’ve always loved me? Dude, me too! lol! Ima take my dress off now. kthxbye.” And it was bewildering rather than romantic, because it seemed so grossly out of character. It even seemed a bit out of character for Nicholas, who spent his life pining after Sophia and convincing himself that she was better off without a loser alcoholic like him… Their getting together worked for the formula of the novel (and now for the moment about halfway through the story in which our characters have sex… tada!) but did not fit the characters or pacing of this specific story.
As for the rest of the book, including the mystery (who is the Bishop? Who killed Sophia’s mother?), it was somewhat overshadowed by the jumpy pacing and unresolved ending. The overall story of the series does not progress at all with this novel — the Young Corinthians, whoever they are, end up precisely where they started. Even though I don’t really care about the progress of the story, it was still a tad discouraging that the story did not advance at all.
In the midst of all of this, though, there were some things that I liked. Nicholas’ household, particularly Singh and Mouse, were delightful secondary characters. I really did enjoy Sophia’s competence at Bow Street, and there’s nothing that I like better than a pining hero, but these things just weren’t enough to make me like the book overall.
I feel a bit ambivalent about this book. On the one hand, I wanted to like it because its heroine is a smart, driven woman who meets her fate head on, pursues interests beyond the typical historical romance female purview –- needlepoint, shopping, and talking about men –- and, furthermore, excels in her pursuits and earns the respect of the male characters. That is heady stuff. On the other hand, I had a lot of issues with pretty much everything else about the book, including its pacing, character/story development, and the romance between Sophia and Nicholas, and however much I wanted to, I didn’t like it at all.
In the early chapters, my main issue with the book is that it assumed that I knew who the hell the characters were, and I didn’t. The problem seems to derive from this book being the fifth in a series. Characters from the prior novels are mentioned but not introduced. When I scanned through the reviews of the previous novels, I encountered similar observations. This problem is not new to the fifth book, it would seem. Who/what are the Young Corinthians? Who is Lord Carmichael? I don’t know! Apparently you have to read books 1-4 in order to form a clear idea.
My other problems with this book mostly stem from the implausible romance between Sophia and Nicholas. Sophia goes from stoically accepting a life without passion as Langdon’s wife to getting naked with Nicholas way too fast. She’s like, “Wow, you mean you’ve always loved me? Dude, me too! lol! Ima take my dress off now. kthxbye.” And it was bewildering rather than romantic, because it seemed so grossly out of character. It even seemed a bit out of character for Nicholas, who spent his life pining after Sophia and convincing himself that she was better off without a loser alcoholic like him… Their getting together worked for the formula of the novel (and now for the moment about halfway through the story in which our characters have sex… tada!) but did not fit the characters or pacing of this specific story.
As for the rest of the book, including the mystery (who is the Bishop? Who killed Sophia’s mother?), it was somewhat overshadowed by the jumpy pacing and unresolved ending. The overall story of the series does not progress at all with this novel — the Young Corinthians, whoever they are, end up precisely where they started. Even though I don’t really care about the progress of the story, it was still a tad discouraging that the story did not advance at all.
In the midst of all of this, though, there were some things that I liked. Nicholas’ household, particularly Singh and Mouse, were delightful secondary characters. I really did enjoy Sophia’s competence at Bow Street, and there’s nothing that I like better than a pining hero, but these things just weren’t enough to make me like the book overall.
November 5, 2012
A must read for Regency Romance fans . I'm such a sucker for stories that have a flawed hero . And Nicholas is one of the most flawed hero's this reader has yet to stumble upon . And Sophia was so spot on as the vulnerable heroine . Just the right touch of vulnerability to draw the reader in without making her a total doormat . Together they made the perfect couple that readers can't help but champion .
Sophia Southwell is haunted by her mothers brutal murder . She is relentless in her persuit of her mothers killer .She has put her entire life on hold ...including the man she has been betrothed to since birth. Now she finally has new information about the murder . So she turns to the only man who can help her . He is her childhood nemesis & the brother to her own fiance .
Nicholas Bourne drowns his sorrow in drink . He has always known that he could never have the one woman he wanted more than anything . So naner..naner ..naner , he chose to antaganize instead of befriending her . He has tried putting distance between them hoping it would stop him from betraying his own brother . But now Sophia has requested his help in solving the murder .
I loved Nicholas . He was so dark . So flawed . And the author showed every inch of his struggle with his weakness . And his guilt at betraying his brother .The emotion was absolutely gutwrenching . I really got into the characters in this story . I kept hoping that his guilt wouldn't push Nicholas right back into the bottle .That is what makes Stefanie Sloanes stories so intrigueing . They are very character driven . Which makes for the very best stories . After all , we all know that even the best plot will fall flat without exciting characters to draw the reader into the story .Let me say that this is one author who knows how to create memorable characters that you won't soon forget. I've been a fan since her first book . And I think I'm qualified to say that this one was her best effort yet .
The Scoundrel Takes A Bride is a top notch historical romance . If you love a good Regency romance with reach-out-and-grab-you characters...then this is the book for you .
Thanks to Netgalley & Random House for allowing me to review this book .
January 12, 2013
I enjoyed this. Although this is book #5 in the REGENCY ROGUES SERIES, I was able to catch up to what was going on.
Lady Sophie's mother was killed years ago. Because of that she has become something of an expert in criminal cases. The Runners allow her to help them with cases. She's been honing her skills in the hopes that she will be the one to track down her mother's killer.
She's also betrothed to Langdon. She loves him, but is in no hurry to set the wedding date. Just when new information comes to her, his younger brother, Nicholas, returns. He's grown into a very dashing man. And she's interested. Which really does annoy her. Nicholas has been in love with her forever, which is partly why he's been gone so long.
As they work together, they realize that they do love each other. But what about Langdon? Yes, that IS the question. There wasn't a quick leap into each other's arms. They had to work at it. I like that.
The mystery part of the story was very nicely done, but be aware that while some questions are answered, the biggest one is not. Which, of course, leads to the next book. One can hope that Langdon finds his own HEA there.
The only drawback was that I thought that the promise the Young Corinthians extracted from the two of them tied things up just a bit too nicely.
Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for the opportunity to read THE SCOUNDREL TAKES A BRIDE.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to spend a few hours in happy reading.
Lady Sophie's mother was killed years ago. Because of that she has become something of an expert in criminal cases. The Runners allow her to help them with cases. She's been honing her skills in the hopes that she will be the one to track down her mother's killer.
She's also betrothed to Langdon. She loves him, but is in no hurry to set the wedding date. Just when new information comes to her, his younger brother, Nicholas, returns. He's grown into a very dashing man. And she's interested. Which really does annoy her. Nicholas has been in love with her forever, which is partly why he's been gone so long.
As they work together, they realize that they do love each other. But what about Langdon? Yes, that IS the question. There wasn't a quick leap into each other's arms. They had to work at it. I like that.
The mystery part of the story was very nicely done, but be aware that while some questions are answered, the biggest one is not. Which, of course, leads to the next book. One can hope that Langdon finds his own HEA there.
The only drawback was that I thought that the promise the Young Corinthians extracted from the two of them tied things up just a bit too nicely.
Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for the opportunity to read THE SCOUNDREL TAKES A BRIDE.
I would recommend this to anyone looking to spend a few hours in happy reading.
June 30, 2018
I received this free from the publisher through the LibraryThing early reviewers program.
I am starting to feel like a curmudgeon with these negative reviews. I like books and review then well but this book (like the other early reads before it) is missing something. In this case, the absent something is a good writer. The core story here is good, I liked the characters very much, but the writing is terrible. I like romances and can forgive a lot of heaving and shuddering and melting, but the prose in this book is so purple it is as if it were written by Barney the Dinosaur. If I had not gotten this free in return for a promised review I doubt I would have finished the book.
I am starting to feel like a curmudgeon with these negative reviews. I like books and review then well but this book (like the other early reads before it) is missing something. In this case, the absent something is a good writer. The core story here is good, I liked the characters very much, but the writing is terrible. I like romances and can forgive a lot of heaving and shuddering and melting, but the prose in this book is so purple it is as if it were written by Barney the Dinosaur. If I had not gotten this free in return for a promised review I doubt I would have finished the book.
December 22, 2012
LOVED it!!! Quick pace, well thought out characters and well written. will be borrowing the rest of the books in this series from the library ASAP.
January 17, 2015
Entertaining book. Didn't take to the h/H - not as I usually did with others in this series.
Plot o.k. but I felt this story was not as good as all the previous books.
Plot o.k. but I felt this story was not as good as all the previous books.
May 31, 2017
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews (Blog post may have additional content such as playlists, interviews, giveaways, etc).
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley/Edelweiss for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.
What’s it About? The setup is that years ago Sophia’s mother was murdered and Sophia is determined to find out who killed her mother and why. So she enlists the help of a childhood friend, Nicholas who just so happens to be the brother of the man Sophia has been engaged to all her life. It just so happens that Sophia isn’t in love with her fiancé, she’s in love with Nicholas and he’s in love with her but neither one knows it. So off they go to try and solve the mystery of the murder and along the way those pesky feelings decide they won’t be ignored anymore.
Overall reaction to the story? I expected way more than what I got with this story. The plot sounded awesome but the execution of it was pretty much a letdown. The characters are dull, their dialogue unimaginative, and the mystery aspect of the plot didn’t exactly have me excited either. All in all I probably should have DNF’d this one at the halfway point when I still wasn’t getting into it and I had been reading it off and on for three months.
Describe the hero in five words: Dull. Tortured… That’s all I’ve got. See my explanation below.
Did you like him? There wasn’t enough about him to tell!!!
Why? There is a decided lack of character anything so I really didn’t get to know Nicholas as a character. He seemed like a halfway decent fellow but the author didn’t give any insight to who he was as a character. I didn’t know who he was as a second son, as a friend, or as a lover to Sophia. Nada. Just that he was in love with her since forever and was willing to help her find out who killed her mother. There’s also something about him being a heavy drinker yet he doesn’t suffer withdrawals when Sophia asks him to stop. Oookay.
Describe the heroine in five words: Also dull. Tortured. Determined… There, I got three this time.
Did you like her? Again, not enough information to tell.
Why? Seriously, Sophia could have been an amazing character. She lived in a time where women were seen and NOT heard yet she was hell bent on finding out who killed her mother. Yet, that wasn’t conveyed in the book. At all. I knew she wanted answers but I didn’t feel her desperation or her sadness at having lost her mother in a violent way. This should have made her stand out but it didn’t. To me she could have blended into the wallpaper and no one would notice.
Let’s talk about the romance: Oy I think this was the most disappointing part of the story for me. There was zero tangible emotions between these two characters who had supposedly loved each other for a long time. You would think there would be a wealth of pent up passion, tension, and longing to convey to the reader right? Well not really. The interactions between Nicholas and Sophia were wooden and hardly inspiring. The sex scenes read more like fact sheets with very little communication between them. No dirty talk, no talk of romance, nothing. Just… A lot of description which isn’t always a bad thing but in this case there was no balance between the technical side and the romantic side.
How about that supporting cast? So what about that fiancé Sophia has? You know, Nicholas’ brother? Well he was a disappointment too. When the couple comes clean about their romance to him, Langdon (That’s the brother) takes it a little too well. I can understand if he’s feeling relived at not having to marry a woman who doesn’t love him but what about that male pride these types of guys are always going on about????
Click It or Skip It? Skip It. The Scoundrel Takes a Bride sounds like a good read on the surface but it doesn’t take long before it falls flat and stays that way until the end. However, since the author does have some solid ideas I would be willing to try a more current book of hers to see if things have changed.
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley/Edelweiss for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.
What’s it About? The setup is that years ago Sophia’s mother was murdered and Sophia is determined to find out who killed her mother and why. So she enlists the help of a childhood friend, Nicholas who just so happens to be the brother of the man Sophia has been engaged to all her life. It just so happens that Sophia isn’t in love with her fiancé, she’s in love with Nicholas and he’s in love with her but neither one knows it. So off they go to try and solve the mystery of the murder and along the way those pesky feelings decide they won’t be ignored anymore.
Overall reaction to the story? I expected way more than what I got with this story. The plot sounded awesome but the execution of it was pretty much a letdown. The characters are dull, their dialogue unimaginative, and the mystery aspect of the plot didn’t exactly have me excited either. All in all I probably should have DNF’d this one at the halfway point when I still wasn’t getting into it and I had been reading it off and on for three months.
Describe the hero in five words: Dull. Tortured… That’s all I’ve got. See my explanation below.
Did you like him? There wasn’t enough about him to tell!!!
Why? There is a decided lack of character anything so I really didn’t get to know Nicholas as a character. He seemed like a halfway decent fellow but the author didn’t give any insight to who he was as a character. I didn’t know who he was as a second son, as a friend, or as a lover to Sophia. Nada. Just that he was in love with her since forever and was willing to help her find out who killed her mother. There’s also something about him being a heavy drinker yet he doesn’t suffer withdrawals when Sophia asks him to stop. Oookay.
Describe the heroine in five words: Also dull. Tortured. Determined… There, I got three this time.
Did you like her? Again, not enough information to tell.
Why? Seriously, Sophia could have been an amazing character. She lived in a time where women were seen and NOT heard yet she was hell bent on finding out who killed her mother. Yet, that wasn’t conveyed in the book. At all. I knew she wanted answers but I didn’t feel her desperation or her sadness at having lost her mother in a violent way. This should have made her stand out but it didn’t. To me she could have blended into the wallpaper and no one would notice.
Let’s talk about the romance: Oy I think this was the most disappointing part of the story for me. There was zero tangible emotions between these two characters who had supposedly loved each other for a long time. You would think there would be a wealth of pent up passion, tension, and longing to convey to the reader right? Well not really. The interactions between Nicholas and Sophia were wooden and hardly inspiring. The sex scenes read more like fact sheets with very little communication between them. No dirty talk, no talk of romance, nothing. Just… A lot of description which isn’t always a bad thing but in this case there was no balance between the technical side and the romantic side.
How about that supporting cast? So what about that fiancé Sophia has? You know, Nicholas’ brother? Well he was a disappointment too. When the couple comes clean about their romance to him, Langdon (That’s the brother) takes it a little too well. I can understand if he’s feeling relived at not having to marry a woman who doesn’t love him but what about that male pride these types of guys are always going on about????
Click It or Skip It? Skip It. The Scoundrel Takes a Bride sounds like a good read on the surface but it doesn’t take long before it falls flat and stays that way until the end. However, since the author does have some solid ideas I would be willing to try a more current book of hers to see if things have changed.
March 21, 2021
PLEASE DONT BE FOOLED BY THE COVER😂
So here’s my thought. It’s an easy read with enough romance and mystery and the writing is not complicated. The plot progression is good too but could be better. This can be a good first-read to anyone who wants to read this genre.
The first part of book focuses more on the crime and mystery.. romance only comes at the second part of the book. It’s kind of a slow burn and when the romance developed, I felt like it’s a bit rush but still negligible since I love both Sophia and Nicholas characters. Sophia is intelligent and not a sad female lead and Nicholas is perfectly flawed like how anyone wished to fall in love with haha. By the way, I really need Langdon pov! How is he so easy to let Sophia go 🥺
I love Singh too! He’s hilarious and it felt like he comes straight from the Bollywood movie (playing funny character in Shah Rukh Khan’s movie).
As for the mystery, I really anticipated how the crimes unfold but I’m a bit disappointed at how it is solved. The author has ideas but I think it’s better to have more details and dramatic (if you’re a thriller reader, you’ll feel dissatisfied too. Thus, I said this is a book for 1st reader). I was confused with some terms too like the Corinthians and few names that didn’t get proper introduction, this is when I realized all the other books in the series are related. The series takes place quite like the Bridgerton but it’s not revolves around siblings.
Overall, it’d say it’s a light read (totally different from the erotic cover hahahahaha) but with something missing-I might need to read other books in the series to have a better judgment. But this is all for now.
So here’s my thought. It’s an easy read with enough romance and mystery and the writing is not complicated. The plot progression is good too but could be better. This can be a good first-read to anyone who wants to read this genre.
The first part of book focuses more on the crime and mystery.. romance only comes at the second part of the book. It’s kind of a slow burn and when the romance developed, I felt like it’s a bit rush but still negligible since I love both Sophia and Nicholas characters. Sophia is intelligent and not a sad female lead and Nicholas is perfectly flawed like how anyone wished to fall in love with haha. By the way, I really need Langdon pov! How is he so easy to let Sophia go 🥺
I love Singh too! He’s hilarious and it felt like he comes straight from the Bollywood movie (playing funny character in Shah Rukh Khan’s movie).
As for the mystery, I really anticipated how the crimes unfold but I’m a bit disappointed at how it is solved. The author has ideas but I think it’s better to have more details and dramatic (if you’re a thriller reader, you’ll feel dissatisfied too. Thus, I said this is a book for 1st reader). I was confused with some terms too like the Corinthians and few names that didn’t get proper introduction, this is when I realized all the other books in the series are related. The series takes place quite like the Bridgerton but it’s not revolves around siblings.
Overall, it’d say it’s a light read (totally different from the erotic cover hahahahaha) but with something missing-I might need to read other books in the series to have a better judgment. But this is all for now.
July 17, 2023
Gave this book 130 pages before I gave up. Read the preceding books in this series and wanted to know who the murderer was, but just couldn’t finish even if it means I never know.
August 24, 2016
I never want to close a door on a romance series. I figure I’ve invested the time to learn about the extended cast of characters and I get myself invested in the story arcs that play in the background of all the books. Since I had read the previous four books of the Regency Rogues series I was willing to get over my disappointment in Book Four and give it one last chance to recapture my attention. Unfortunately, while The Scoundrel Takes a Bride itself was alright it did nothing to really spark a renewed interest in the franchise.
Lady Sofia Afton has dedicated her life to solving the case of her mother’s murder. Using her clout as a peeress she has wormed her way into the records of the Bow Street Runners as well as dug deep into the classified files of the Young Corinthians. She knows that the answers are there for the taking if only she had the resources to get into the darker sides of London’s streets. She befriends fallen women and spends time at a halfway house to try to glean more information about the organized crime syndicates, but manages to balance that against attending balls and teas with the cream of the ton. From an accuracy standpoint, there is almost no way that a woman of this age could have gotten access to most of the information Sophia does in her investigations, yet the reader is asked to believe that just because of her charm and personality that no one would question her. I understand that all of these efforts illustrated Sophia’s dedication to solving the crime and her intelligence as compared to the magistrates and super-spies who allowed the case to go cold. However it just seemed like too much; like she couldn’t fail at anything if it related to her mother’s death. This all might have worked within the constraints of a Contemporary book, but didn’t work as well within the historical timeframe.
For the romance, the set-up of Sophia and Nicholas Bourne coming together through their investigation treaded too close to some of my biggest pet peeves within a story; Love Triangles and Cheating. Since her birth, Sophia has been unofficially betrothed to Langdon Bourne, Nicholas’s older brother. As the three of them grew up together, Langdon’s feelings for Sophia were always warm but since the betrothal was understood he never pressured her into a courtship or pressed for marriage. During this same time, Nicholas’s feelings did change from a casual regard for Sophia into a deep burning for her that was always threatening to surface when they were together. To prevent himself from acting on his impulses Nicholas left England to make his fortune in India, only returning when the demons he was running from seemed to catch up to him there as well. Involving himself in Sophia’s investigation forces Nicholas to accept his emotions and he is surprised to know that the pull between him and Sophia isn’t one sided. Where I had my problems with this set-up is that the clandestine part of the romance goes on for too long. Sophia and Nicholas are fairly honest with themselves about how much they come to love one another and the great declarations of love aren’t left for the last pages of the book. Unfortunately neither one of them wants to tell Langdon! He spends the better part of the book completely in the dark about his brother and fiancé falling in love and then he has to confront them with his evidence of an affair before they fess up. I just couldn’t respect Sophia for leading Langdon on for so long even when her heart was completely engaged with Nicholas.
The Scoundrel Takes a Bride relies heavily on the assumption that the audience has read and remembers the details from the previous book The Saint who Stole my Heart. The Kingsman crime organization is more fleshed out in this story, but the groundwork of how Nicholas got involved in the investigation, of who The Bishop is and his ties to the murder, as well as Langdon’s position within the Young Corinthians were all major plot points in the last book. I was fortunate to remember the details that were pertinent to Sophia and Nicholas’s story, but a new reader would know right away that they are missing some important pieces of the puzzle. I was also unsatisfied by the endgame to Sophia’s vendetta. We are led to believe that The Bishop was the big baddie, so his being caught and brought to justice should have been a turning point for all the main characters. Sadly, he is just another link in the chain and Sophia’s confrontation with the man just read as hollow. There was no pay off for anyone.
For readers who have been loyally following the Regency Rogues series, The Scoundrel Takes a Bride is probably just as good as the other stories. The espionage and romance are both on the lighter side and the historical portion is definitely more wall-paper than realistic. Even my bleeding heart for the Langdon character won’t be enough for me to read the next book when it releases next summer.
Lady Sofia Afton has dedicated her life to solving the case of her mother’s murder. Using her clout as a peeress she has wormed her way into the records of the Bow Street Runners as well as dug deep into the classified files of the Young Corinthians. She knows that the answers are there for the taking if only she had the resources to get into the darker sides of London’s streets. She befriends fallen women and spends time at a halfway house to try to glean more information about the organized crime syndicates, but manages to balance that against attending balls and teas with the cream of the ton. From an accuracy standpoint, there is almost no way that a woman of this age could have gotten access to most of the information Sophia does in her investigations, yet the reader is asked to believe that just because of her charm and personality that no one would question her. I understand that all of these efforts illustrated Sophia’s dedication to solving the crime and her intelligence as compared to the magistrates and super-spies who allowed the case to go cold. However it just seemed like too much; like she couldn’t fail at anything if it related to her mother’s death. This all might have worked within the constraints of a Contemporary book, but didn’t work as well within the historical timeframe.
For the romance, the set-up of Sophia and Nicholas Bourne coming together through their investigation treaded too close to some of my biggest pet peeves within a story; Love Triangles and Cheating. Since her birth, Sophia has been unofficially betrothed to Langdon Bourne, Nicholas’s older brother. As the three of them grew up together, Langdon’s feelings for Sophia were always warm but since the betrothal was understood he never pressured her into a courtship or pressed for marriage. During this same time, Nicholas’s feelings did change from a casual regard for Sophia into a deep burning for her that was always threatening to surface when they were together. To prevent himself from acting on his impulses Nicholas left England to make his fortune in India, only returning when the demons he was running from seemed to catch up to him there as well. Involving himself in Sophia’s investigation forces Nicholas to accept his emotions and he is surprised to know that the pull between him and Sophia isn’t one sided. Where I had my problems with this set-up is that the clandestine part of the romance goes on for too long. Sophia and Nicholas are fairly honest with themselves about how much they come to love one another and the great declarations of love aren’t left for the last pages of the book. Unfortunately neither one of them wants to tell Langdon! He spends the better part of the book completely in the dark about his brother and fiancé falling in love and then he has to confront them with his evidence of an affair before they fess up. I just couldn’t respect Sophia for leading Langdon on for so long even when her heart was completely engaged with Nicholas.
The Scoundrel Takes a Bride relies heavily on the assumption that the audience has read and remembers the details from the previous book The Saint who Stole my Heart. The Kingsman crime organization is more fleshed out in this story, but the groundwork of how Nicholas got involved in the investigation, of who The Bishop is and his ties to the murder, as well as Langdon’s position within the Young Corinthians were all major plot points in the last book. I was fortunate to remember the details that were pertinent to Sophia and Nicholas’s story, but a new reader would know right away that they are missing some important pieces of the puzzle. I was also unsatisfied by the endgame to Sophia’s vendetta. We are led to believe that The Bishop was the big baddie, so his being caught and brought to justice should have been a turning point for all the main characters. Sadly, he is just another link in the chain and Sophia’s confrontation with the man just read as hollow. There was no pay off for anyone.
For readers who have been loyally following the Regency Rogues series, The Scoundrel Takes a Bride is probably just as good as the other stories. The espionage and romance are both on the lighter side and the historical portion is definitely more wall-paper than realistic. Even my bleeding heart for the Langdon character won’t be enough for me to read the next book when it releases next summer.
September 6, 2021
“Nicolas leaned against the wall, his legs suddenly weak. He was scared for Mouse. Thankful for Singh’s presence. And humbled by Sophia’s love. All of his life, he’d run from emotional entanglements, certain such things would lead to his undoing. And at that very moment, he proved himself right. He was undone. Anxious and angry, in love and loved.
And he was still alive. Nicolas beat his fist against the wall and bowed his head. He was more than still alive. He’d been reborn.”
My favourite quote from the book, it perfectly illustrates the intense lust and love that is captured by the author.
And he was still alive. Nicolas beat his fist against the wall and bowed his head. He was more than still alive. He’d been reborn.”
My favourite quote from the book, it perfectly illustrates the intense lust and love that is captured by the author.
November 9, 2013
The mystery began in
The Saint Who Stole My Heart
, when Sophia's mother is found dead inside their country house. It is 15 years later and Sophia compels her three friends, Langdon, Nicholas and Dash to help her discover who had killed her mother and it is something that has consumed all of them, especially Sophia.
With Dash married, it is now up to Nicholas and Sophia to follow the lead that Dash has uncovered but this proves difficult because Sophia and Nicholas have never had the friendliest of relationships: not as children and not as adults. Why? Because Nicholas has secretly loved Sophia all his life but it has been arranged for Sophia to marry Langdon, Nicholas's older brother.
I discovered one new thing about myself when I was reading Stefanie Sloane's The Scoundrel Takes a Bride: it seems I really love the friends-to-lovers storyline and that I really, really love childhood friends-to-lovers storylines.
It was obvious, from the first chapter, that Nicholas harbored a secret affection for Sophia that he could not express as a young boy. He left England, hoping to forget his love for Sophia and, when he returned, it seems that all the old feelings were never forgotten. One can feel overwhelmed when something this immense, this deep, this old happens -- and Nicholas is, once again, unable to say what is in his heart. Instead, he does his best to push Sophia away; to push his brother, Langdon, away.
I loved the restraint and the tension every time Nicholas was with Langdon or Sophia -- more so, when he was with both Langdon and Sophia. I can sympathize with Nicholas's position: Langdon and Sophia would be married very soon and the exigency of the situation must cut at Nicholas like a knife.
I thought Stefanie Sloane wrote this part of the story very well and I would have been quite happy to have followed this love story from beginning to end -- but, this is only part of the story. The greater part of the story involves the mystery of Sophia's mother's murder all those years ago. In Dash's story, they discovered the man who had killed her -- but, apparently, he was only the tip of the iceberg -- and the man who masterminded the murders is known as The Bishop.
I had some reservations about how Nicholas and Sophia dealt with their investigation: they lied to a lot of people, innocent people, to get information. I especially felt sorry for Maggie Pemble (read Chapter 24). =(
I felt our hero and heroine crossed a line and this was no longer a fight of good versus evil. I wondered why they never asked Langdon's help. Also, why Bow Street wasn't involved when Sophia works with them? Though it is explained in the story why, I felt it wasn't a convincing reason, especially pertaining to Langdon. (I'm not sure if it's just me, but I thought Mr. Bean of the Bow Street Runners was a bit creepy and made me think he was involved in the murder. Read pp. 115-120)
I also felt a bit disappointed with how Sloane chose to write the ending -- I understand that there ought to be a story left to tell in Langdon's book but I couldn't help but be frustrated to follow a thread, thinking to reach the end of it, only to discover that it is part of a seemingly never-ending spool.
I've been following Stefanie Sloane since her debut novel and, while I never completely fall in love with her stories, there's always something in them that makes me want to read more. I have to say that she has a way with writing interesting characters. In this novel, it was Mr. Pavan Singh who stole the show. (Loved his words of wisdom. ^_^)
I was also very intrigued by the Halcyon Society and Mrs. Mason.
With Dash married, it is now up to Nicholas and Sophia to follow the lead that Dash has uncovered but this proves difficult because Sophia and Nicholas have never had the friendliest of relationships: not as children and not as adults. Why? Because Nicholas has secretly loved Sophia all his life but it has been arranged for Sophia to marry Langdon, Nicholas's older brother.
I discovered one new thing about myself when I was reading Stefanie Sloane's The Scoundrel Takes a Bride: it seems I really love the friends-to-lovers storyline and that I really, really love childhood friends-to-lovers storylines.
It was obvious, from the first chapter, that Nicholas harbored a secret affection for Sophia that he could not express as a young boy. He left England, hoping to forget his love for Sophia and, when he returned, it seems that all the old feelings were never forgotten. One can feel overwhelmed when something this immense, this deep, this old happens -- and Nicholas is, once again, unable to say what is in his heart. Instead, he does his best to push Sophia away; to push his brother, Langdon, away.
I loved the restraint and the tension every time Nicholas was with Langdon or Sophia -- more so, when he was with both Langdon and Sophia. I can sympathize with Nicholas's position: Langdon and Sophia would be married very soon and the exigency of the situation must cut at Nicholas like a knife.
"All I want is the truth --"
"The truth is that you are to be my brother's wife," Nicholas snapped. "A fact that has eaten away at my heart all of these years until there's very little of it left. That is the truth, Sophia."
- p. 129
I thought Stefanie Sloane wrote this part of the story very well and I would have been quite happy to have followed this love story from beginning to end -- but, this is only part of the story. The greater part of the story involves the mystery of Sophia's mother's murder all those years ago. In Dash's story, they discovered the man who had killed her -- but, apparently, he was only the tip of the iceberg -- and the man who masterminded the murders is known as The Bishop.
I had some reservations about how Nicholas and Sophia dealt with their investigation: they lied to a lot of people, innocent people, to get information. I especially felt sorry for Maggie Pemble (read Chapter 24). =(
I felt our hero and heroine crossed a line and this was no longer a fight of good versus evil. I wondered why they never asked Langdon's help. Also, why Bow Street wasn't involved when Sophia works with them? Though it is explained in the story why, I felt it wasn't a convincing reason, especially pertaining to Langdon. (I'm not sure if it's just me, but I thought Mr. Bean of the Bow Street Runners was a bit creepy and made me think he was involved in the murder. Read pp. 115-120)
I also felt a bit disappointed with how Sloane chose to write the ending -- I understand that there ought to be a story left to tell in Langdon's book but I couldn't help but be frustrated to follow a thread, thinking to reach the end of it, only to discover that it is part of a seemingly never-ending spool.
I've been following Stefanie Sloane since her debut novel and, while I never completely fall in love with her stories, there's always something in them that makes me want to read more. I have to say that she has a way with writing interesting characters. In this novel, it was Mr. Pavan Singh who stole the show. (Loved his words of wisdom. ^_^)
"Sahib, it is said the most beautiful things in the universe are the starry heavens above us and the feeling of duty within us. My duty is to you, so here I am. And the stars that fill your London sky are the very same ones that watch over my beautiful valley in India."
- p. 46
I was also very intrigued by the Halcyon Society and Mrs. Mason.
January 15, 2013
Reviewed for: You Gotta Read Reviews
Rating: You Need to Read/ 4 stars
Blurb: In Stefanie Sloane’s irresistible Regency romance series of spy games and seductive passion, a rogue discovers that his desire for the wrong woman is so very right.
A notorious scoundrel, the right Honorable Nicholas Bourne has spent years in the East Indies amassing a fortune through questionable means. Still, his loyalty to his older brother, Langdon, and his childhood friends remains true and trusted. But when Lady Sophia Southwell, the woman promised to Nicholas’s brother, seeks his help on a dangerous mission, he is troubled—and torn. Unable to dissuade her from her quest to find a killer, he vows to keep her safe. This makes his mission the hardest test of his wits, honor, and skill. For Sophia is the secret love of his life.
For years, Sophia has planned her daring act of revenge against her mother’s killer. She has painstakingly prepared herself by studying the criminal mind. Now she knows that the moment is right and that Nicholas is the man to help her. But she doesn’t count on the reckless temptation of his rugged sensuality or the captivating intensity in his deep eyes. When desire and emotion intoxicate her as they venture together into the darkest corners of London’s underbelly, Sophia must contend with a yearning even more powerful than the quest for vengeance: the call of love.
Review: Since birth, Lady Sophia has been betrothed to her dearest friend Langdon Bourne, Earl of Stonecliffe. They have a comfortable but passionless relationship. Neither are in any hurry to walk down the aisle, though their friends think they should.
When Sophia was a child, her mother was murdered. Unfortunately, Sophia and her friends Langdon, Dash and Nicolaus were the ones to discover her. Now new information has come to light that may lead to the man responsible for ordering her mother's death. Knowing Langdon, who prefers Sophia to follow quiet pursuits, would fight her efforts to find the killer she seeks out Nicolaus to aide in her scheme.
Nicolaus has hidden his love for Sophia with bad tempered teasing and snippy attitudes since they were children. The younger brother of Langdon, Nicolaus was free to live a life of whim. Wild and unattainable, he prefers to bury his frustration in a bottle. When he fails to change Sophia's mind, he chooses to protect her during her dangerous pursuits.
Sophia is daring, definitely a woman out of her time. She has good handle on criminology and works with Bow Street runners (scandalous for sure). She has a lot of grit for a lady of her time. Nicolaus is more of a gentleman than he would like the world to believe. He takes in an orphan, allows an Indian healer to turn his house upside down, and does try to reign in his feelings for Sophia.
Still, aside from their admirable qualities, both Nicolaus and Sophia lie to hide their exploits and eventual affair from Langdon. I felt they should have been upfront with him as soon as they admitted their feelings for one another. Langdon seems to be clueless as to why his brother and fiance are spending so much time together, going off on excursions. I have to wonder why he is blind to their actions. Aside from that, if you like murder mystery with your historical romance, then The Scoundrel Takes A Bride is must read.
Rating: You Need to Read/ 4 stars
Blurb: In Stefanie Sloane’s irresistible Regency romance series of spy games and seductive passion, a rogue discovers that his desire for the wrong woman is so very right.
A notorious scoundrel, the right Honorable Nicholas Bourne has spent years in the East Indies amassing a fortune through questionable means. Still, his loyalty to his older brother, Langdon, and his childhood friends remains true and trusted. But when Lady Sophia Southwell, the woman promised to Nicholas’s brother, seeks his help on a dangerous mission, he is troubled—and torn. Unable to dissuade her from her quest to find a killer, he vows to keep her safe. This makes his mission the hardest test of his wits, honor, and skill. For Sophia is the secret love of his life.
For years, Sophia has planned her daring act of revenge against her mother’s killer. She has painstakingly prepared herself by studying the criminal mind. Now she knows that the moment is right and that Nicholas is the man to help her. But she doesn’t count on the reckless temptation of his rugged sensuality or the captivating intensity in his deep eyes. When desire and emotion intoxicate her as they venture together into the darkest corners of London’s underbelly, Sophia must contend with a yearning even more powerful than the quest for vengeance: the call of love.
Review: Since birth, Lady Sophia has been betrothed to her dearest friend Langdon Bourne, Earl of Stonecliffe. They have a comfortable but passionless relationship. Neither are in any hurry to walk down the aisle, though their friends think they should.
When Sophia was a child, her mother was murdered. Unfortunately, Sophia and her friends Langdon, Dash and Nicolaus were the ones to discover her. Now new information has come to light that may lead to the man responsible for ordering her mother's death. Knowing Langdon, who prefers Sophia to follow quiet pursuits, would fight her efforts to find the killer she seeks out Nicolaus to aide in her scheme.
Nicolaus has hidden his love for Sophia with bad tempered teasing and snippy attitudes since they were children. The younger brother of Langdon, Nicolaus was free to live a life of whim. Wild and unattainable, he prefers to bury his frustration in a bottle. When he fails to change Sophia's mind, he chooses to protect her during her dangerous pursuits.
Sophia is daring, definitely a woman out of her time. She has good handle on criminology and works with Bow Street runners (scandalous for sure). She has a lot of grit for a lady of her time. Nicolaus is more of a gentleman than he would like the world to believe. He takes in an orphan, allows an Indian healer to turn his house upside down, and does try to reign in his feelings for Sophia.
Still, aside from their admirable qualities, both Nicolaus and Sophia lie to hide their exploits and eventual affair from Langdon. I felt they should have been upfront with him as soon as they admitted their feelings for one another. Langdon seems to be clueless as to why his brother and fiance are spending so much time together, going off on excursions. I have to wonder why he is blind to their actions. Aside from that, if you like murder mystery with your historical romance, then The Scoundrel Takes A Bride is must read.
January 20, 2013
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Let me start out by saying that I won a copy of this book with First Reads, and I had my expectations set very high. In fact, I desperately wanted to like this book. I love romance novels and am always looking for a new author. However this book just didn't work for me. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be confusing. To be fair, this is the 5th book in the series, so I'll give some leeway for that. However, there was just too much (characters, in particular) that appeared in story with little to no explanation of who/what they were. There was also the instance of two different people (I think? More confusion.) named Lettie. Probably not the best idea.
Then there was the romance. What can I even say? It wasn't that I disliked the characters, or the concept (falling in love with your brother's fiance). In fact, I thought the concept had extreme potential. The problem was how the romance progressed. All of the sudden, it's yes, I love you too even though I was just thinking about how marriage with your brother will be pleasant (if not passionate) because I love him. Then there's the sex scene. Can we discuss how he immediately pushes it in, with no foreplay. (she's a virgin for goodness sake!). Then stops, in the middle, foreplay ensues. Then the sex continues. Huh?
As for the rest of the book, the mystery of killed Sophia's mother and the identity of the mysterious Bishop, I feel it necessary to quote two former reviewers (you two nailed it). First, the story was overshadowed by the pacing. It was so disjointed, I had trouble keeping track of what was going on (and more importantly, why, since I couldn't follow the what). Secondly, it required a larger than normal suspension of belief than most novels, romance or not. First she suddenly remembers she used to draw as an little girl (and so amazingly accurate and life like too!). Even if I am going to pretend that she was a child prodigy, there is no way she forgot she used to draw. Murder or no, she was not that young. Then there was the scene they pretended to be actors. Then how they pretended to be someone else when they “broke into” Bedlam. Do I even need to explain how contrived that was?
All of that being said, there were some parts of the story that I enjoyed. I thought some of the secondary characters were wonderful. My favorite (and I imagine he will win over everyone who reads the book) was Singh. I also think that Langdon has the potential to be an interesting character (of course, we've seen what this author does with potential, so maybe not). Is he the perfect guy Nicholas seems to think he is? Or is there something hidden beneath the surface? And let's not forget the insane actress Maggie. I thought she was well written. Finally, the idea to include psychology was brilliant (though honestly, how it was brought in through Sophia was just plain ridiculous). Still, including the concept was interesting and something I haven't seen done before despite the many, many romance novels I've read. At some point, I will probably pick up the conclusion to this series (whenever it comes out) if only to satisfy my desire to know who killed Sophia's mother, and more importantly, why?
Let me start out by saying that I won a copy of this book with First Reads, and I had my expectations set very high. In fact, I desperately wanted to like this book. I love romance novels and am always looking for a new author. However this book just didn't work for me. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be confusing. To be fair, this is the 5th book in the series, so I'll give some leeway for that. However, there was just too much (characters, in particular) that appeared in story with little to no explanation of who/what they were. There was also the instance of two different people (I think? More confusion.) named Lettie. Probably not the best idea.
Then there was the romance. What can I even say? It wasn't that I disliked the characters, or the concept (falling in love with your brother's fiance). In fact, I thought the concept had extreme potential. The problem was how the romance progressed. All of the sudden, it's yes, I love you too even though I was just thinking about how marriage with your brother will be pleasant (if not passionate) because I love him. Then there's the sex scene. Can we discuss how he immediately pushes it in, with no foreplay. (she's a virgin for goodness sake!). Then stops, in the middle, foreplay ensues. Then the sex continues. Huh?
As for the rest of the book, the mystery of killed Sophia's mother and the identity of the mysterious Bishop, I feel it necessary to quote two former reviewers (you two nailed it). First, the story was overshadowed by the pacing. It was so disjointed, I had trouble keeping track of what was going on (and more importantly, why, since I couldn't follow the what). Secondly, it required a larger than normal suspension of belief than most novels, romance or not. First she suddenly remembers she used to draw as an little girl (and so amazingly accurate and life like too!). Even if I am going to pretend that she was a child prodigy, there is no way she forgot she used to draw. Murder or no, she was not that young. Then there was the scene they pretended to be actors. Then how they pretended to be someone else when they “broke into” Bedlam. Do I even need to explain how contrived that was?
All of that being said, there were some parts of the story that I enjoyed. I thought some of the secondary characters were wonderful. My favorite (and I imagine he will win over everyone who reads the book) was Singh. I also think that Langdon has the potential to be an interesting character (of course, we've seen what this author does with potential, so maybe not). Is he the perfect guy Nicholas seems to think he is? Or is there something hidden beneath the surface? And let's not forget the insane actress Maggie. I thought she was well written. Finally, the idea to include psychology was brilliant (though honestly, how it was brought in through Sophia was just plain ridiculous). Still, including the concept was interesting and something I haven't seen done before despite the many, many romance novels I've read. At some point, I will probably pick up the conclusion to this series (whenever it comes out) if only to satisfy my desire to know who killed Sophia's mother, and more importantly, why?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2013
Since discovering her mother dead the only thing Lady Sophia Afton wanted was to find her killer. She has studied criminal behavior and even worked with Bow Street Runners. With help from her closest friends, the Young Corinthians, she is close. But she needs help. With Dash getting married and Langdon, the Earl of Stonecliffe and her long time fiancé, disapproving of her involvement there is only one person she can turn too. Nicholas Bourne, Langdon’s younger brother.
Nicholas grew up with Sophia and even at a young age new there was something special about her. Yet, she was betrothed to his brother and he knew he needed to distance himself from her. But going all the way to India couldn’t stop his love for her. When she asks for his help he knows he cant refuse her. He must protect her.
Oh, my heart! I had butterflies in my stomach the whole book. Watching Nicholas let his guard down made my heart flutter. In many ways he’s an antihero but it’s just a façade. Deep down he really is hero material. He loves Sophia deeply. He also cares for his brother, and the other people in his life, like Mouse and Singh, even though he acts annoyed.
I enjoyed watching Sophia come into her own. She was never going to be what Langdon wanted in a wife and Nicholas helped her realize that. She loved Langdon, but not in the way she loves Nicholas. He was the one for her all along even if she didn’t really know it.
Her unqualified need to be near him matched in the intensity only by his impatience for her very existence…Despite the distance he kept between them, she found herself unable to ignore the inexplicable pull his presence always exerted on her.
Favorite Quote
It killed him to touch her, her soft, small hand in his akin to torture. Yet he wouldn’t let go. He knew he would never be an honorable man. Never marry nor know the joys of family. He would take his love for Sophia to his deathbed. Even it destroyed him, which, he ventured to guess, was precisely what would happen.
Overall
I adore Stefanie Sloane’s books and I was really excited for Nicholas’s story. And I was not disappointed. The Scoundrel Takes A Bride is book 5 in her Regency Rouges series. Can you read it on its own? Sure, but I highly suggest reading The Saint Who Stole My Heart, book 4, since the mystery continues. Also because I loved that story and Dash, the hero.
Dash was at the top of my favorite hero list but Nicholas has knocked him down a peg. I absolutely adore Nicholas. No, not adore. I love him, madly. His love for Sophia is so pure that he knows no one else will compare. Plus, despite the way it seems, he is a genuine good guy who loves his brother. I dare you to try and not love Nicholas. It’s impossible.
I only wish there was less on the mystery of Lady Afton’s killer and more Nicholas and Sophia. I cannot wait for Langdon’s book. After having his heart broken I’m really hoping he finds someone who loves him. He deserves it. And hopefully we will find Lady Afton’s killer.
Nicholas grew up with Sophia and even at a young age new there was something special about her. Yet, she was betrothed to his brother and he knew he needed to distance himself from her. But going all the way to India couldn’t stop his love for her. When she asks for his help he knows he cant refuse her. He must protect her.
Oh, my heart! I had butterflies in my stomach the whole book. Watching Nicholas let his guard down made my heart flutter. In many ways he’s an antihero but it’s just a façade. Deep down he really is hero material. He loves Sophia deeply. He also cares for his brother, and the other people in his life, like Mouse and Singh, even though he acts annoyed.
I enjoyed watching Sophia come into her own. She was never going to be what Langdon wanted in a wife and Nicholas helped her realize that. She loved Langdon, but not in the way she loves Nicholas. He was the one for her all along even if she didn’t really know it.
Her unqualified need to be near him matched in the intensity only by his impatience for her very existence…Despite the distance he kept between them, she found herself unable to ignore the inexplicable pull his presence always exerted on her.
Favorite Quote
It killed him to touch her, her soft, small hand in his akin to torture. Yet he wouldn’t let go. He knew he would never be an honorable man. Never marry nor know the joys of family. He would take his love for Sophia to his deathbed. Even it destroyed him, which, he ventured to guess, was precisely what would happen.
Overall
I adore Stefanie Sloane’s books and I was really excited for Nicholas’s story. And I was not disappointed. The Scoundrel Takes A Bride is book 5 in her Regency Rouges series. Can you read it on its own? Sure, but I highly suggest reading The Saint Who Stole My Heart, book 4, since the mystery continues. Also because I loved that story and Dash, the hero.
Dash was at the top of my favorite hero list but Nicholas has knocked him down a peg. I absolutely adore Nicholas. No, not adore. I love him, madly. His love for Sophia is so pure that he knows no one else will compare. Plus, despite the way it seems, he is a genuine good guy who loves his brother. I dare you to try and not love Nicholas. It’s impossible.
I only wish there was less on the mystery of Lady Afton’s killer and more Nicholas and Sophia. I cannot wait for Langdon’s book. After having his heart broken I’m really hoping he finds someone who loves him. He deserves it. And hopefully we will find Lady Afton’s killer.
November 4, 2012
This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...
I'm sorry to say that The Scoundrel Takes a Bride wasn't what I'd hoped for. It was an okay book, but it didn't measure up.
Let me start by saying that I liked the main characters and the romance was lovely.
Sophia is determined and strong. She refuses to rest until her mother's killer is revealed. And she has learned the skills needed to help uncover the truth. Throughout the story, she proves herself to be a worthy heroine, likable and admirable.
Nicholas was adorable. He's loved Sophia since they were young and has always been hurt by the fact that she has been arranged to marry his brother. But, for both his brother and Sophia, he hides his feelings and leaves England as soon as he can. Eventually, of course, his feelings are revealed. And though he feels guilty for betraying his brother, he begins a romance with Sophia. I thought that I wouldn't like a hero that stole his brother's fiance. But, the depth of his emotion was so well done that I still adored him. The romance between him and Sophia was so sweet and so well done, that it just warmed my heart. Their relationship isn't overtly sexual, so, while they do the deed, their "encounters" don't exactly take up the whole book.
The other characters were lovely, especially Carmichael. He was sweet and adorable. And he was so understanding about Sophia and Nicholas' relationship. I'm guessing a book about him is upcoming in the series, and I'm looking forward to seeing his happiness.
The problem with this book that ruined it for me was the plot. It was erratic. It didn't flow. It felt like it would just jump from scene to scene, leaving me confused about what exactly was going on. Obviously, a problem like this seriously impedes enjoyment of a book. The Scoundrel Takes a Bride had all the elements to make me adore it. But the erratic story line ruined that.
So, I'm sorry to say 2.5/5
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy!
I'm sorry to say that The Scoundrel Takes a Bride wasn't what I'd hoped for. It was an okay book, but it didn't measure up.
Let me start by saying that I liked the main characters and the romance was lovely.
Sophia is determined and strong. She refuses to rest until her mother's killer is revealed. And she has learned the skills needed to help uncover the truth. Throughout the story, she proves herself to be a worthy heroine, likable and admirable.
Nicholas was adorable. He's loved Sophia since they were young and has always been hurt by the fact that she has been arranged to marry his brother. But, for both his brother and Sophia, he hides his feelings and leaves England as soon as he can. Eventually, of course, his feelings are revealed. And though he feels guilty for betraying his brother, he begins a romance with Sophia. I thought that I wouldn't like a hero that stole his brother's fiance. But, the depth of his emotion was so well done that I still adored him. The romance between him and Sophia was so sweet and so well done, that it just warmed my heart. Their relationship isn't overtly sexual, so, while they do the deed, their "encounters" don't exactly take up the whole book.
The other characters were lovely, especially Carmichael. He was sweet and adorable. And he was so understanding about Sophia and Nicholas' relationship. I'm guessing a book about him is upcoming in the series, and I'm looking forward to seeing his happiness.
The problem with this book that ruined it for me was the plot. It was erratic. It didn't flow. It felt like it would just jump from scene to scene, leaving me confused about what exactly was going on. Obviously, a problem like this seriously impedes enjoyment of a book. The Scoundrel Takes a Bride had all the elements to make me adore it. But the erratic story line ruined that.
So, I'm sorry to say 2.5/5
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy!
December 11, 2012
I never want to close a door on a romance series. I figure I’ve invested the time to learn about the extended cast of characters and I get myself invested in the story arcs that play in the background of all the books. Since I had read the previous four books of the Regency Rogues series I was willing to get over my disappointment in Book Four and give it one last chance to recapture my attention. Unfortunately, while The Scoundrel Takes a Bride itself was alright it did nothing to really spark a renewed interest in the franchise.
Lady Sofia Afton has dedicated her life to solving the case of her mother’s murder. Using her clout as a peeress she has wormed her way into the records of the Bow Street Runners as well as dug deep into the classified files of the Young Corinthians. She knows that the answers are there for the taking if only she had the resources to get into the darker sides of London’s streets. She befriends fallen women and spends time at a halfway house to try to glean more information about the organized crime syndicates, but manages to balance that against attending balls and teas with the cream of the ton. From an accuracy standpoint, there is almost no way that a woman of this age could have gotten access to most of the information Sophia does in her investigations, yet the reader is asked to believe that just because of her charm and personality that no one would question her. I understand that all of these efforts illustrated Sophia’s dedication to solving the crime and her intelligence as compared to the magistrates and super-spies who allowed the case to go cold. However it just seemed like too much; like she couldn’t fail at anything if it related to her mother’s death. This all might have worked within the constraints of a Contemporary book, but didn’t work as well within the historical timeframe.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2012/1...
Lady Sofia Afton has dedicated her life to solving the case of her mother’s murder. Using her clout as a peeress she has wormed her way into the records of the Bow Street Runners as well as dug deep into the classified files of the Young Corinthians. She knows that the answers are there for the taking if only she had the resources to get into the darker sides of London’s streets. She befriends fallen women and spends time at a halfway house to try to glean more information about the organized crime syndicates, but manages to balance that against attending balls and teas with the cream of the ton. From an accuracy standpoint, there is almost no way that a woman of this age could have gotten access to most of the information Sophia does in her investigations, yet the reader is asked to believe that just because of her charm and personality that no one would question her. I understand that all of these efforts illustrated Sophia’s dedication to solving the crime and her intelligence as compared to the magistrates and super-spies who allowed the case to go cold. However it just seemed like too much; like she couldn’t fail at anything if it related to her mother’s death. This all might have worked within the constraints of a Contemporary book, but didn’t work as well within the historical timeframe.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2012/1...
January 6, 2013
Lady Sophia Afton is not like other women of her class. She spends her time pouring over criminal cases for the Bow Street Runners. She has even put off her long expected marriage to the Earl of Stonecliffe in order to make a study of criminal psychology. Truthfully, Sophia will do anything to uncover new leads in the longtime unsolved case of her mother’s murder.
Nicholas Bourne has travelled the world, fighting other people’s wars. Nothing has helped him forget the one thing he wishes he could have. But the woman he has loved since childhood is promised to marry another. Worse still, Sophia has been expected since birth to marry Nicholas’s older brother.
Now Sophia has come to Nicholas for help in pursuing a new and dangerous lead in her mother’s case. It will take everything he has to aid her while keeping her safe from villains who will stop at nothing to keep their clandestine organization hidden. Nicholas just hopes can give Sophia what she wants, without surrendering to the desire that burns like wildfire between them.
This is a well written story, with a fast paced plot that has a new twist at every turn. Nicholas is magnificent as a roguish anti-hero. He is the perfect match for a woman like Sophia, who is just a little too eager to rush into trouble. Readers will enjoy watching them fight an attraction a lifetime in the making.
Kaitlin
Nicholas Bourne has travelled the world, fighting other people’s wars. Nothing has helped him forget the one thing he wishes he could have. But the woman he has loved since childhood is promised to marry another. Worse still, Sophia has been expected since birth to marry Nicholas’s older brother.
Now Sophia has come to Nicholas for help in pursuing a new and dangerous lead in her mother’s case. It will take everything he has to aid her while keeping her safe from villains who will stop at nothing to keep their clandestine organization hidden. Nicholas just hopes can give Sophia what she wants, without surrendering to the desire that burns like wildfire between them.
This is a well written story, with a fast paced plot that has a new twist at every turn. Nicholas is magnificent as a roguish anti-hero. He is the perfect match for a woman like Sophia, who is just a little too eager to rush into trouble. Readers will enjoy watching them fight an attraction a lifetime in the making.
Kaitlin
June 30, 2013
Stefanie Sloane is still a pretty new to me author so I haven’t read much in the Regence Rogues series yet. That did not stop me from picking up books 4 and 5 in the series and while I’ve enjoyed them both, I did feel a little lost on some of the plot points in Scoundrel Takes a Bride. The death of Lady Sophie’s mother fifteen years ago drastically changed Sophie and her friends. They have made it their unofficial mission to uncover who killed her and why. For years Sophie has been working towards the goal of finding her mother’s killer and she now feels it is the time for her to begin her hunt. With the help of the Young Corinthians and he betrothed’s younger brother, Nicholas, she’s ready to search the back alleys of London for the evil that hides there. What she never expected was the emotions that Nicholas elicits from her. With her hand promised to one brother while her heart is with the other, Sophie must decide what really is important to her and her future happiness. A very good love story and I’ll be happy for full conclusions in the final book in the series but some of the background and secondary characters did leave me a little confused. I was able to power through but I think reading this series together, and in order, would make it more enjoyable. Outside of that, great read!
December 28, 2012
This is a continuation of the series begun with Stefanie Sloanes " The Devil in Disguise" of a group of young English noblemen who work for the British Crown under the Young Corinthians and a second novel in the storyline begun in "The Saint Who Stole My Heart". Four young children are devestated by the murder of Lady Afton, the mother of the heroine of this book, Lady Sophia Southwell. Lady Sophia has vowed to find her mother's killer. She has an understanding with Langdon Bourne, one of the other children, as it was always assumed that they would marry one day. Although she cares deeply for Langdon, it is his younger brother Nicholas that excites her passions. She always belived that Nicholas disliked her--only to find out he has loved her all along, but would never betray his brother. The two join forces to find her mother's killer, unknown to Langdon, and with all the trials and tribulations of this search they fall deeper in love with each other.
I enjoyed this book as I am interested in the story line, but I really didn't get that attached to the main charactors in this one. They seems kind of flat to me. I'm looking forward to the next one where Langdon finds real love at last.
I enjoyed this book as I am interested in the story line, but I really didn't get that attached to the main charactors in this one. They seems kind of flat to me. I'm looking forward to the next one where Langdon finds real love at last.
September 24, 2013
The Scoundrel in the book is Nicholas and the Bride is Sophia. They along with Nicholas’s brother Langdon have been friends since they were children. Langdon is the oldest and the perfect son. Sophia is Langdon’s promised bride. Thus we have the triangle set up.
The story revolves around the murder of Sophia’s Mother when all three were children. That murder has not been solved but a new clue has been unearthed. Sophia is determined to follow it and find the killer but she needs help. She turns to Nicholas for help, as Langdon would try to stop her from going into danger.
With this set up the story moves rapidly forward. There is danger, suspense, romance and more danger. I liked both Sophia and Nicholas and often found Langdon clueless. It did make for a good touch to the story.
This is the second book in the Regency Rogues series and the story line here is a continuation from the first book. While more information about the murder is uncovered in The Scoundrel Takes a Bride the mystery is not solved. That is left for the next book. Of course there is a really fun and exciting journey leading up to the HEA for Nicholas and Sophia.
The story revolves around the murder of Sophia’s Mother when all three were children. That murder has not been solved but a new clue has been unearthed. Sophia is determined to follow it and find the killer but she needs help. She turns to Nicholas for help, as Langdon would try to stop her from going into danger.
With this set up the story moves rapidly forward. There is danger, suspense, romance and more danger. I liked both Sophia and Nicholas and often found Langdon clueless. It did make for a good touch to the story.
This is the second book in the Regency Rogues series and the story line here is a continuation from the first book. While more information about the murder is uncovered in The Scoundrel Takes a Bride the mystery is not solved. That is left for the next book. Of course there is a really fun and exciting journey leading up to the HEA for Nicholas and Sophia.
November 14, 2013
My review at Booklist:
Sloane’s fifth title in the Regency Rogues series, following The Saint Who Stole My Heart (2012), finds Lady Sophia determined to find out why her mother was killed. After she hears new information about the death, she enlists the aid of Nicholas Bourne, her fiancé Langdon’s younger brother. Newly returned to England from India, Nicholas is initially reluctant, but agrees to help when Sophia says that, given her background as an aide at Scotland Yard and her criminal psychology avocation, she will hunt down the mysterious killer known as the Bishop. At first Sophia is a little uneasy in Nicholas’ presence, and finally realizes it’s because she loves him more than his brother, her intended. When she and Nicholas go to her family’s summer home where her mother was killed, and where she, Nicholas, and Langdon played as children, it becomes more and more difficult to resist their passion while they look into her mother’s final days. Sloane leavens the grim investigation and the angst of illicit love with humor in this satisfying tale.— Pat Henshaw
Sloane’s fifth title in the Regency Rogues series, following The Saint Who Stole My Heart (2012), finds Lady Sophia determined to find out why her mother was killed. After she hears new information about the death, she enlists the aid of Nicholas Bourne, her fiancé Langdon’s younger brother. Newly returned to England from India, Nicholas is initially reluctant, but agrees to help when Sophia says that, given her background as an aide at Scotland Yard and her criminal psychology avocation, she will hunt down the mysterious killer known as the Bishop. At first Sophia is a little uneasy in Nicholas’ presence, and finally realizes it’s because she loves him more than his brother, her intended. When she and Nicholas go to her family’s summer home where her mother was killed, and where she, Nicholas, and Langdon played as children, it becomes more and more difficult to resist their passion while they look into her mother’s final days. Sloane leavens the grim investigation and the angst of illicit love with humor in this satisfying tale.— Pat Henshaw
December 25, 2012
Rating cloer to 3.5.
I won this copy from (First Read Giveaway) and it was a great win. The story itself involves a 15 year old murder case, I get the feeling this murder is part of the series in general with portions of it being solved in each installment. The approach satisfies because it completes one task in it's entirety. So it's unique in that respect and will most likely make me read other installments.
I adored Nicholas, his character had great depth and agonized over a love he could never have. Sophie I thought was very mature on one side but a bit niave on the other, you'll see what I mean when you read through.
Now there is a love triangle going on of sorts and this is where the story didn't take enough advantage of it's own plot element. It could have been far stronger had the pursuit and decision been more agonizing, this is what holds the story back significantly. But, to pass a few hours with a bit of intrique and romance this will suit.
I won this copy from (First Read Giveaway) and it was a great win. The story itself involves a 15 year old murder case, I get the feeling this murder is part of the series in general with portions of it being solved in each installment. The approach satisfies because it completes one task in it's entirety. So it's unique in that respect and will most likely make me read other installments.
I adored Nicholas, his character had great depth and agonized over a love he could never have. Sophie I thought was very mature on one side but a bit niave on the other, you'll see what I mean when you read through.
Now there is a love triangle going on of sorts and this is where the story didn't take enough advantage of it's own plot element. It could have been far stronger had the pursuit and decision been more agonizing, this is what holds the story back significantly. But, to pass a few hours with a bit of intrique and romance this will suit.
January 10, 2013
Reviewed at HarlequinJunkie.com
The Scoundrel Takes A Bride is an engaging, complex, and colorful, intrigue that will take through the streets of Regency, London.
Sophia Southwell has never forgotten the murder of her mother that took place when she was a young girl. All grown up, Sophia is determined to avenge her mother’s death and put her murderer away. She enlists the help of her lifelong friend, Nicholas Bourne to assist her.
As youngsters, Sophia and Nicholas, often had a quarrelsome relationship, but as they work together to bring a killer to justice Sophia comes to see Nicholas in a new light. There is only one problem, Sophia has been promised to Nicholas’ brother since she was a young girl. Read More
The Scoundrel Takes A Bride is an engaging, complex, and colorful, intrigue that will take through the streets of Regency, London.
Sophia Southwell has never forgotten the murder of her mother that took place when she was a young girl. All grown up, Sophia is determined to avenge her mother’s death and put her murderer away. She enlists the help of her lifelong friend, Nicholas Bourne to assist her.
As youngsters, Sophia and Nicholas, often had a quarrelsome relationship, but as they work together to bring a killer to justice Sophia comes to see Nicholas in a new light. There is only one problem, Sophia has been promised to Nicholas’ brother since she was a young girl. Read More
January 28, 2013
I thought it was going to be good.. since Julia Quinn called Stefanie Sloane her bestie and recommended it.
But it wasn't.. Sloane jumps from topic to topic without finesse. It's not gradual. For example, Nicholas, Sophia and Langdon are talking about how Nicholas doesn't care for manners in the presence of another lady. Then, he says, "Shall we get back to the kissing bit?" to that lady. For someone who doesn't know much about what the ton considered good manners in the 1800s. This jumping about is confusing and startling.
I don't get a strong sense of the characters' strengths and flaws. The book says Nicholas and Sophia are possessive. But I didn't get any hint of that from their actions. Langdon... was just, meh. Sloane has them all yo-yoing.
I barely read the sex scenes. Yeah....
But it wasn't.. Sloane jumps from topic to topic without finesse. It's not gradual. For example, Nicholas, Sophia and Langdon are talking about how Nicholas doesn't care for manners in the presence of another lady. Then, he says, "Shall we get back to the kissing bit?" to that lady. For someone who doesn't know much about what the ton considered good manners in the 1800s. This jumping about is confusing and startling.
I don't get a strong sense of the characters' strengths and flaws. The book says Nicholas and Sophia are possessive. But I didn't get any hint of that from their actions. Langdon... was just, meh. Sloane has them all yo-yoing.
I barely read the sex scenes. Yeah....
June 16, 2015
So I finished this book awhile ago and it seems that I just never got around to writing a review for it. But well now I have! I thought that book "The Scoundrel Takes a Bride" by Stefanie Sloane was just delicious. The character development was very complex. Because this is written back in older times sometimes the women of the book are treated unfairly. And it is something that I did not enjoy, but made the book interesting because I had never read anything like that before. The romance and decision making and mystery was just so intense. I will definitely read more books by this author and also anymore books in this series, this is a series that I can see myself reading over and over again. This book is for someone who enjoys romance, love triangles, mystery and a numerous amount of suspense.
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