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Rewards Series #1
Scandal's Reward
DEVILISH DELIGHT
Catherine Hunter was enjoying a last stroll on the moors before she left her father's vicarage to become a paid companion to Lady Montagu. Spying the approaching horseman, Catherine had only meant to warn him of the bog; instead, she pitched headlong into his path! Even in her embarrassment, she couldn't help noticing that he was uncommonly handsome, though his tongue-lashing was most ungentlemanly. But then, Catherine's furious retort was completely unladylike!
When their paths crossed again, he was wielding a pistol! Charles "Devil" de Dagonet, one-time heir to Lion Court, had returned to his widowed aunt's estate to clear his name and reclaim his legacy. What he claimed was Catherine's kiss...and soon the whole town was talking! He felt remorse. She found romance. Now Catherine was ready to risk everything to redeem the dashing "devil" with the sweet salvation of everlasting love.
Catherine Hunter was enjoying a last stroll on the moors before she left her father's vicarage to become a paid companion to Lady Montagu. Spying the approaching horseman, Catherine had only meant to warn him of the bog; instead, she pitched headlong into his path! Even in her embarrassment, she couldn't help noticing that he was uncommonly handsome, though his tongue-lashing was most ungentlemanly. But then, Catherine's furious retort was completely unladylike!
When their paths crossed again, he was wielding a pistol! Charles "Devil" de Dagonet, one-time heir to Lion Court, had returned to his widowed aunt's estate to clear his name and reclaim his legacy. What he claimed was Catherine's kiss...and soon the whole town was talking! He felt remorse. She found romance. Now Catherine was ready to risk everything to redeem the dashing "devil" with the sweet salvation of everlasting love.
251 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 16, 2021
I enjoyed this regency from the 90s - 3.5 stars rounded up.
This is a straight up regency romance. Catherine (Kate) is the eldest daughter of a country vicar. Her sister is engaged to be married and so Kate feels it is time for her to escape the family home. She takes a position as a paid companion to a widow living on the local estate. The widow’s nephew was supposed to be heir to her father but nearly a decade ago he was disinherited after a servant girl was found murdered. Now he is back to clear his name and of course ends up meeting Kate. There is a lot of back and forth in their relationship with many typical regency elements showing up. She is occasionally idiotic but thankfully not too often. He is frequently too blasé in his attitude. But I liked that they were not rushing into things. There is no sex other than a few kisses. Loose ends were nicely tidied up. And the killer was the perfect choice.
This is a straight up regency romance. Catherine (Kate) is the eldest daughter of a country vicar. Her sister is engaged to be married and so Kate feels it is time for her to escape the family home. She takes a position as a paid companion to a widow living on the local estate. The widow’s nephew was supposed to be heir to her father but nearly a decade ago he was disinherited after a servant girl was found murdered. Now he is back to clear his name and of course ends up meeting Kate. There is a lot of back and forth in their relationship with many typical regency elements showing up. She is occasionally idiotic but thankfully not too often. He is frequently too blasé in his attitude. But I liked that they were not rushing into things. There is no sex other than a few kisses. Loose ends were nicely tidied up. And the killer was the perfect choice.
May 10, 2021
There was so much in this book that I ought to have disliked quite intensely - an improbably daredevil and sophisticated hero with a terrible reputation, a feisty heroine who refuses to admit she’s in love with him and berates him at every opportunity, a series of increasingly implausible events and (my personal automatic fail) a plot that would fall apart in two seconds if the main characters would just talk to each other. And you know what? I absolutely loved it. Who’d a thunk it?
Here’s the premise: bad boy Charles de Dagonet has been disinherited and disowned by his marquis grandfather after a pregnant maid was found drowned in a pond, and he was deemed to blame. He joined the army to make a living, but now that the war’s over, he’s returned home to try to clear his name and reclaim his inheritance. Catherine Hunter is the local vicar’s daughter, taking up a post as companion to Dagonet’s widowed aunt. The two meet accidentally on the moors, and instantly fall out. But their next meeting is even less pleasant - Dagonet sneaks into his aunt’s house, steals jewellery from her, and her son and daughter, and a kiss from Catherine, all at gunpoint.
To be honest, this scene is very funny. Dagonet has been forbidden the house, and the son (George, who stands to inherit everything that was supposed to be Dagonet’s) has posted heavies to make sure he can’t get in. So he duffs up the heavies (four of them!) and climbs in through a window, instead. When Catherine reaches for the bell pull to summon help, he throws a knife to slice through it. And having taken what he wants, trading pithy remarks and erudite quotations with Catherine the whole time, he then leaps out through the window again and disappears into the night. The whole thing is ludicrously implausible, and Dagonet impossibly clever and suave. It’s all so terribly Zorro that I wanted to yell, “Who was that masked man!” All that was missing was the swirling cape, I suppose. And yet - I loved it.
From there onwards, more and more unlikely events pile up, and Dagonet gets opportunities on every page to demonstrate his superb abilities at… well, absolutely everything. Horses, shooting, swordplay, music, apt quotations from a huge array of writers, lovemaking (naturally) and even playing hazard, a dice game that’s a matter of pure chance (unless the dice are loaded). Some gambling games are based on skill (like piquet) or bravado (poker) but anything with dice is only about probabilities. And all the time, he and Catherine are falling in love, and fighting it tooth and nail, because he’s a disgraced reprobate who can’t have anything to do with a virtuous vicar’s daughter, and yet they are thrown together at every turn.
The marquis grandfather is deployed as a plot device to bring matters to a head so that our protagonists finally recognise that they love each other and there’s a suitably romantic ending with a tasteful and not at all graphic sex scene. Completely over the top and outrageously silly, but very funny, with some lovely romantic moments along the way. I loved every moment of it. Five stars.
Here’s the premise: bad boy Charles de Dagonet has been disinherited and disowned by his marquis grandfather after a pregnant maid was found drowned in a pond, and he was deemed to blame. He joined the army to make a living, but now that the war’s over, he’s returned home to try to clear his name and reclaim his inheritance. Catherine Hunter is the local vicar’s daughter, taking up a post as companion to Dagonet’s widowed aunt. The two meet accidentally on the moors, and instantly fall out. But their next meeting is even less pleasant - Dagonet sneaks into his aunt’s house, steals jewellery from her, and her son and daughter, and a kiss from Catherine, all at gunpoint.
To be honest, this scene is very funny. Dagonet has been forbidden the house, and the son (George, who stands to inherit everything that was supposed to be Dagonet’s) has posted heavies to make sure he can’t get in. So he duffs up the heavies (four of them!) and climbs in through a window, instead. When Catherine reaches for the bell pull to summon help, he throws a knife to slice through it. And having taken what he wants, trading pithy remarks and erudite quotations with Catherine the whole time, he then leaps out through the window again and disappears into the night. The whole thing is ludicrously implausible, and Dagonet impossibly clever and suave. It’s all so terribly Zorro that I wanted to yell, “Who was that masked man!” All that was missing was the swirling cape, I suppose. And yet - I loved it.
From there onwards, more and more unlikely events pile up, and Dagonet gets opportunities on every page to demonstrate his superb abilities at… well, absolutely everything. Horses, shooting, swordplay, music, apt quotations from a huge array of writers, lovemaking (naturally) and even playing hazard, a dice game that’s a matter of pure chance (unless the dice are loaded). Some gambling games are based on skill (like piquet) or bravado (poker) but anything with dice is only about probabilities. And all the time, he and Catherine are falling in love, and fighting it tooth and nail, because he’s a disgraced reprobate who can’t have anything to do with a virtuous vicar’s daughter, and yet they are thrown together at every turn.
The marquis grandfather is deployed as a plot device to bring matters to a head so that our protagonists finally recognise that they love each other and there’s a suitably romantic ending with a tasteful and not at all graphic sex scene. Completely over the top and outrageously silly, but very funny, with some lovely romantic moments along the way. I loved every moment of it. Five stars.
June 2, 2022
An enjoyable Regency. Started off well but got a bit silly in the middle. Charles 'Devil' de Dagonet has returned, many years after being disinherited, to clear his name. He almost rides over the top of Catherine Hunter as she flings herself in front of his horse & meets her again as the companion to his aunt.
Catherine does some stupid things, & Charles is roguish & oh-so-bloody noble by turns, but they seem to be made for each other. A bit of fun.
Catherine does some stupid things, & Charles is roguish & oh-so-bloody noble by turns, but they seem to be made for each other. A bit of fun.
December 9, 2020
R1x Families and friends, even passed on, are well-drawn. Vicar's daughter Kate and former heir Dagonet fight their love. After maid Millie was found drowned, Dagonet was nearby, passed out, so disinherited. Ubiquitous scamps help find truth.
March 10, 2020
Read March 2020
January 16, 2025
Wonderful
Kate the clergyman’s daughter and Dragonet the take are a fabulous pair resolving history with much adventure. Very fun and relaxing read!
Kate the clergyman’s daughter and Dragonet the take are a fabulous pair resolving history with much adventure. Very fun and relaxing read!
February 2, 2016
Good trad regency
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews