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All's Fair In Love and Scandal
(Scandalous #2.5)
by
Nothing wagered…
Douglas Bennet can’t resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England, Douglas agrees at once. After all, it would be quite a coup to discover the true identity of Lady Constance, author of the infamous erotic serial scandalizing the ton, 50 Ways t ...more
Douglas Bennet can’t resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England, Douglas agrees at once. After all, it would be quite a coup to discover the true identity of Lady Constance, author of the infamous erotic serial scandalizing the ton, 50 Ways t ...more
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Mass Market Paperback, 146 pages
Published
June 9th 2015
by Avon Impulse
(first published April 21st 2015)
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Start your review of All's Fair In Love and Scandal (Scandalous, #2.5)
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
All's Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden
Book 2.5 of the Scandal series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Official Summary:
Nothing wagered…
Douglas Bennet can't resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England ...more
All's Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden
Book 2.5 of the Scandal series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: April 21, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Official Summary:
Nothing wagered…
Douglas Bennet can't resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England ...more
4.5 stars
All’s Fair in Love and Scandal is a novella in Caroline Linden’s current Scandalous series. It sits between books two and three, and features Douglas Bennet, the brother of Joan, who was the heroine of the first book,Love and Other Scandals.
In that story, Douglas was introduced as a bit of a jack-the-lad, a womaniser and gambler frequently to be found hell-raising with his best mate, Tristan Burke. When Tristan unexpectedly marries Joan, Douglas finds himself at a bit of a loose end ...more
All’s Fair in Love and Scandal is a novella in Caroline Linden’s current Scandalous series. It sits between books two and three, and features Douglas Bennet, the brother of Joan, who was the heroine of the first book,Love and Other Scandals.
In that story, Douglas was introduced as a bit of a jack-the-lad, a womaniser and gambler frequently to be found hell-raising with his best mate, Tristan Burke. When Tristan unexpectedly marries Joan, Douglas finds himself at a bit of a loose end ...more
I'm in a bizarro romance reading world where all these new 4/5-star books are 2-star books to me. So you say I should just shut up and go away? Back to the bizarro world I come from? But what if there are a few readers like me? I'd love to know I'm not all alone. (Please write. Please call. I'm all alone here.)
This Caroline Linden novella, for example. I should have known not to order it because I did not like the first two entries in her Scandal series. But it was only $1.99 and I thought maybe ...more
This Caroline Linden novella, for example. I should have known not to order it because I did not like the first two entries in her Scandal series. But it was only $1.99 and I thought maybe ...more
Absolutely darling. Pure fun and ever so romantic. Douglas and Madeleine have the best banter and their friendship to romance is wonderfully paced for such a short book.
This was a great addition to the series and coming from someone who is not a fan of these short books, that says a lot.
This was a great addition to the series and coming from someone who is not a fan of these short books, that says a lot.
Lovely novella with a charming rogue and a strong lady. I specially like that she is strong and ladylike and he is a rake all way through, but still a dashing, kind of honorable rake 🤪.
I have been enjoying this Scandals series and the theme of the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet. This story is about Douglas Bennet, brother of Joan Bennet (the heroine of the first book in this series).
Douglas is a charming gambler who has learned to never gamble more than he is willing to lose. When a wager sets him after Madeline Wilde, an aloof, mysterious widow, Douglas soon learns that this wager may cost him something he never thought he could lose--his heart.
For a 100 page story, it still felt l ...more
Douglas is a charming gambler who has learned to never gamble more than he is willing to lose. When a wager sets him after Madeline Wilde, an aloof, mysterious widow, Douglas soon learns that this wager may cost him something he never thought he could lose--his heart.
For a 100 page story, it still felt l ...more
3.75 Stars
All's Fair in Love and Scandal was a fun little story that focuses on Douglas, the brother of Joan and best friend of Tristan (heroine and hero of Love and Other Scandals). He was thrown off by the marriage of his sister and best friend and is feeling a bit lost in what to do with his time now. Douglas's biggest weakness is wagers as he has a compulsion to bet on almost anything. This includes whether the mysterious widow, Madeline Wilde, is really Lady Constance, writer of the scandal ...more
All's Fair in Love and Scandal was a fun little story that focuses on Douglas, the brother of Joan and best friend of Tristan (heroine and hero of Love and Other Scandals). He was thrown off by the marriage of his sister and best friend and is feeling a bit lost in what to do with his time now. Douglas's biggest weakness is wagers as he has a compulsion to bet on almost anything. This includes whether the mysterious widow, Madeline Wilde, is really Lady Constance, writer of the scandal ...more
I was really looking forward to reading Douglas and Madeline’s story after they were briefly mentioned in The Secret of My Seduction. A gossip writer widow falling under the charm of a rakish young lordling? It practically screamed catnip. Sadly though, my high expectations were quickly dashed.
Despite enjoying the playful banter between the leads as well as the hilarious antics of Madeline’s cat Mr. Nash and the cheeky housemaid Constance, it was definitely a struggle to finish this novella. The ...more
Despite enjoying the playful banter between the leads as well as the hilarious antics of Madeline’s cat Mr. Nash and the cheeky housemaid Constance, it was definitely a struggle to finish this novella. The ...more
(Nov) Somehow I missed this was a novella, so as I was reading on my Kindle and noticed I was all of a sudden 50% through, I was pretty surprised how fast I was reading this! Joke was on me - book was less than 150 pgs! Anyway, Madeline is a widow, Douglas a man-about-town nice enough guy. He's pretty well liked, and is a good guy, other than he tends to throw out the phrase "care to make a bet?" too often. Not a gambler who would risk losing all his funds, still someone who thinks nothing of ma
...more
I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, but after this short one I can't wait to start the others!
While it follows the first two books I felt that I could still easily keep up and enjoy it so it can be read on its own as well.
The one sentence that made me want to read this was the fact that it's a mix betwen 50 shades and Jane Austen, from there I really couldn't wait to read it.
Steamy pamphlets called 50 ways to sin written by Lady Constance is making its way around London. N ...more
While it follows the first two books I felt that I could still easily keep up and enjoy it so it can be read on its own as well.
The one sentence that made me want to read this was the fact that it's a mix betwen 50 shades and Jane Austen, from there I really couldn't wait to read it.
Steamy pamphlets called 50 ways to sin written by Lady Constance is making its way around London. N ...more
I rarely give novellas 5 stars but Caroline Linden's usually deserve it. This was the perfect story for Douglas who is lonely with his best friend now married to his sister (see "Love and Other Scandals'). Douglas meets Madeline on a bet and the sparks fly from there. This book is easy to read in an evening and I couldn't out it down. Looking forward to the next one in the series, "Love In the Time of Scandal" coming in June.
...more
2.5 stars
This was fine, I guess, but I thought it was pretty insubstantial and I honestly didn't care very much about the outcome or anything else. This read quickly though, so I'm not really complaining. ...more
This was fine, I guess, but I thought it was pretty insubstantial and I honestly didn't care very much about the outcome or anything else. This read quickly though, so I'm not really complaining. ...more
This is the best romance novella of all time. There's the perfect angst to fluff ratio, perfect complexity of plot, perfect characters, and a perfect ending. It's made me into an inarticulate wreck who only knows one adjective. I don't know why I went in hiatus over this: it's utterly perfect, and Caroline Linden is a master of her craft.
...more
I actually think this is the best story of the series so far. I wasn’t impressed with Douglas in the first book, but he more than made up for it here. My only wish is that we’d seen him family’s reaction to his pursuit of Madeline.
This is a short novella that I read after ‘It Takes a Scandal’ and before ‘Love in the Time of Scandal’. This little gem continues and enhances the Scandals series.
The novella continues the theme of the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet which is written by “Lady Constance” and is a very salacious piece that’s entertaining men and women alike. The thing is, no one knows who the author is, but a lot of the male readers seem to recognize themselves as the protagonists of her tales.
Hero of this story is Dougl ...more
The novella continues the theme of the 50 Ways to Sin pamphlet which is written by “Lady Constance” and is a very salacious piece that’s entertaining men and women alike. The thing is, no one knows who the author is, but a lot of the male readers seem to recognize themselves as the protagonists of her tales.
Hero of this story is Dougl ...more
In every installment of Caroline Linden’s Scandalous series, the naughty 50 Ways to Sin stories have captured the attention and imagination of the more daring ladies of the ton. Everyone is talking about them and no one knows the identity of the woman behind the bold serial. Now a wager has Douglas Bennet tasked with unmasking her. His target: the aloof widow, Madeline Wilde.
Douglas didn’t even know Madeline existed until a friend threw down the gauntlet, daring him to turn her head. But despite ...more
Douglas didn’t even know Madeline existed until a friend threw down the gauntlet, daring him to turn her head. But despite ...more
I should have a shelf for books that I'm enjoying, take a break from, and then have trouble getting back into. And this was only a break of an hour or so!
So yeah. The first part of this was fun! And I didn't realize this was the brother of the Love and Other Scandals heroine! Very awesome.
But I guess it dragged on a bit (and it's a novella!) and . . . I don't know. A bit too complicated at the end, with all the bets and such. Plus, it has a point-of-view character semi-concealing something from ...more
So yeah. The first part of this was fun! And I didn't realize this was the brother of the Love and Other Scandals heroine! Very awesome.
But I guess it dragged on a bit (and it's a novella!) and . . . I don't know. A bit too complicated at the end, with all the bets and such. Plus, it has a point-of-view character semi-concealing something from ...more
This was one of the better novellas I've read in this genre, in part because it was two likable characters with interesting histories who met, liked each other, and didn't have some absurd obstacle to overcome in the span of 130 or so pages. I was really engaged and really enjoyed their time together.
...more
DNF. I hate to DNF a novella but I found myself able to walk away from reading this one for days and I've just decided to give it up. It was very hard to get into this book, mostly because I don't feel like I got to learn anything about either character.
...more
DNF: Could not get into this book at all.
I enjoyed this novella. It is a sweet story. 3 stars
I have to admit that it didn't take long to become a great fan of Caroline Linden's historical romances. I utterly enjoyed both the first and the second books from this series. That's precisely why expected to enjoy this one as well. I finished the book yesterday and I have to say I was unpleasantly surprised.
As I was reading I couldnt help but think that it sounded more like something that would have been a great addition to the series rather than an actual story. Everything happened too fast ...more
As I was reading I couldnt help but think that it sounded more like something that would have been a great addition to the series rather than an actual story. Everything happened too fast ...more
She was flirt; excellent, He adored flirts
4.5 stars
I've noticed a trend where the short side stories of a series are so much better than the main novels. That was definitely the case with this one. I loved it, I loved Madeleiene and I like the whole wager/bet situation.
The story was painfully short and it was central to the 2 characters, I want a whole series on Madeline and Douglas. It was very sweet with a touch of mystery and just all round did it for me though, not particularly scandalous. ...more
4.5 stars
I've noticed a trend where the short side stories of a series are so much better than the main novels. That was definitely the case with this one. I loved it, I loved Madeleiene and I like the whole wager/bet situation.
The story was painfully short and it was central to the 2 characters, I want a whole series on Madeline and Douglas. It was very sweet with a touch of mystery and just all round did it for me though, not particularly scandalous. ...more
While each of the books in Linden's Scandalous series can be read as standalones, each is loosely connected by some family connections (friends, a set of sisters, etc.) and a scandalous serial publication titled 50 Ways to Sin. No one knows the author but proper ladies all over London go to great lengths to purchase and read the adventures of "Lady Constance". A man has offered a reward for unmasking her identity, and this short story follows one attempt to do so. This is well written for a nove
...more
All's Fair In Love and Scandal is the first book by Caroline Linden that I have read and I really enjoyed the story as well as her characters. After reading this book I am definitely planning to read more by this author and from this series because I want to learn more about the characters I met in this book. Even though this book is not the first one in the series I felt that I was able to understand what was going on without a problem and felt it could be read as a stand alone although I bet i
...more
I see now why the other reviewers complained about the novella length. This story was a hurried-up version of the first novel in the series. Some plot points are different but the arc is just the same, but less ... realistic, I guess, given there's not enough time for their relationship to unfold. More telling, less showing.
I don't think it would read all that well as a stand-alone but it's fun to see what happens to Douglas, the little brother from the first novel in the series. ...more
I don't think it would read all that well as a stand-alone but it's fun to see what happens to Douglas, the little brother from the first novel in the series. ...more
I really enjoyed the first two novels in this series, but this novella was decidedly average. I liked the characters alright, but the plot points were a little contrived feeling, especially toward the end, which started to feel like a caper. The characters sort of needed to make bad decisions in order to move the plot in a certain direction but it didn't feel very believable. Nothing offensive though, just not particularly good.
...more
Wonderful book and characters based on a wager Douglas and Madeleine are wonderful together when the sparks fly and in solving the wager and beating Spence out of his money but gets his just due in the end would highly recommend 👍👍
I don't quite buy that Douglas is her friend, it all happens too quickly and it all started because of a silly wager. Alas, cute ending.
...more
My favorite character was Constance and I loved the many men in her mind.
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Readers also enjoyed
Caroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University and worked as a programmer in the financial services industry before realizing writing fiction is much more exciting than writing code. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Readers' Choice Award, the JNRW Golden Leaf, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA's RITA Award, and have been translated into
...more
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Scandalous
(4 books)
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“What the devil was this story? Douglas pushed open the door to his sitting room, propped one shoulder against the window frame as he opened the plain, prudish cover, and began to read.
By the end of the first page his eyebrows started to rise. By the end of the second, his mouth was hanging open. And when he reached the last page, he no longer cared about Spence's wager or the bounty on Lady Constance's head or what Burke was thinking to let Joan read this.
If Madeline Wilde had written this--even if every word sprang solely out of her imagination and not from her experience--he wanted to get to know her much, much better.”
—
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More quotes…
By the end of the first page his eyebrows started to rise. By the end of the second, his mouth was hanging open. And when he reached the last page, he no longer cared about Spence's wager or the bounty on Lady Constance's head or what Burke was thinking to let Joan read this.
If Madeline Wilde had written this--even if every word sprang solely out of her imagination and not from her experience--he wanted to get to know her much, much better.”
