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The Scandalous Spinsters #2.5

A Game of Persuasion

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Publisher's Note: This story is continued in the full-length novel The Art of Ruining a Rake, and is intended as bonus content or as an introduction to the Scandalous Spinsters Series.

A NIGHT SHE'LL NEVER FORGET…
Miss Lucy Lancester has loved her brother’s best friend, Roman Alexander, for as long as she can remember. So devotedly, she’s vowed never to marry anyone else. But her beloved libertine is hardly aware of her existence, and not the least deserving of her affection. Deciding her cause is lost, she makes plans to open a girls’ school in Bath. There’s just one thing she needs to do before she confirms her spinsterhood forever: spend one blissful night in Roman’s arms. But her handsome rogue isn’t ready to have the tables turned. It will take more than a coquettish smile to turn his head. She must play a game…of persuasion.

146 pages, ebook

First published July 20, 2015

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About the author

Emma Locke

16 books92 followers
Emma Locke is a USA Today Bestselling Author of smart, sensual Regency romances. Her current books make up the Scandalous Spinsters series, a double trilogy featuring three courtesans and three country hoydens who marry into the notorious Alexander family. She is also an engineer living in the Pacific Northwest, where she loves hiking with her dog, hot yoga and riding out the annual 330 days of rain.

You can Like Emma on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuthorEmmaLocke, follow her on Twitter @EmmaLocke_ or check out her books and appearances at www.emmalocke.com.

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5 stars
122 (26%)
4 stars
151 (32%)
3 stars
131 (28%)
2 stars
39 (8%)
1 star
24 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Profile Image for ☽ Rhiannon ✭ Mistwalker ☾.
1,092 reviews44 followers
January 27, 2021
I’m 62% in and frankly a bit embarrassed on behalf of the heroine due to her chasing the hero so hard no matter how many times he shoves his indifference to her in her face. Just when I think she’s wising up after , she’s all “Perhaps she could change him.” Ugh.

Okay, finished and immediately dove into the second book, as this is a cliffhanger extended intro/prologue. It’s all one story so they kind of blend together, but I have to say, while there is some QUALITY angst and excellent steam, I just don’t quite understand the heroine’s confidence. She’s described as plain, she’s a spinster, he’s never noticed her, he’s in love with someone else and he is a rake that is coveted by every woman in the ton? While I enjoyed her anxiety about , it eclipsed the angst I was seeking, namely a plain spinster pining for a man she should think could never care for her. I have a very specific trope that I look for, and frankly, this is not it.

I rate books based on them fulfilling my personal preferences, so it probably deserves another star, as it is well-written, I couldn’t put it down, and has unique characters with a very developed plot that was much more complex and non-tropey than I was expecting. (3.5 stars)
Profile Image for Natalie Alder.
Author 13 books133 followers
February 25, 2019
Page turner

This story keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has you cheering for and feeling for a woman with passion.
Profile Image for Margaret Sholders.
1,121 reviews12 followers
July 26, 2015
This story is the Prologue of The Art of Ruining a Rake. Lucy has loved Roman for years. He never paid attention to her even though he is his her brother Ash' s best friend. Lucy really doesn't have much patience. She wants to go to the grown up balls not the over chaperoned balls. She goes to a lightskirt for advice as she wants to have a Girl's school. Ash had really fallen for her but then found she was a Courtesan. There are a few spoilers and this leads into Lucy and Roman' s story-The Art of Ruining a Rake. This is a really short lead in. You can really like this double reading. Don't let this get past you! I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.
Profile Image for 🦉Maggie Whitworth.
3,254 reviews113 followers
May 1, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
A young girl with a crush on her brothers friend , a story of unrequited loved .
Wanting those taboo feelings to be returned, to experience love between a man and woman .
Lucy want all this but only with one man Roman .
This book has emotions in abundance . Poor Lucy I really felt for her . I wanted to grab Roman and shake him so he could see her .
I felt their pain bless them .
It’s a great prequel to the next book which I can’t wait to read ,
Soon I hope x
Profile Image for Ronnae Stately.
770 reviews
February 9, 2023
I read this book out of order and now have realized I’m going to have to go back and read the previous two before I can go forward. But in the meantime this book was ok for a short book in a series that seems to revolve around a brother and his two sisters in his care. This one mostly has to do with the seduction or the losing of ones virginity before you go on with your life as you see it. Lucy wants to lose the very thing that makes her a good candidate for marriage. This way she can go on with her own plans for her life in finding a school for girls. She seeks out her brothers love interest who he has set aside because of her past and has her teach her the art of seduction. She only wants one person, Roman, who is her brother’s best friend and confidante. She has been in love with him since her childhood and now that she is of age, 25, she figures this is best for herself. In the end things go well but then things also go sideways and who knows what comes next.
Profile Image for Laura.
339 reviews16 followers
August 16, 2017
if you've read the first book in the series, The Trouble With Being Wicked, you'll be very familiar with the plot of this novella already. This is an extended prologue for the following book, The Art of Ruining A Rake. It retells the story of Lucy Lancester, who enlists the help of former courtesan Celeste Gray to seduce her girlhood crush, Roman Alexander. While we already got the gist of what happened through Celeste's and Trestin's eyes, it was pretty interesting to find out the rest of the details from Lucy's point of view.
489 reviews2 followers
October 26, 2018
I listened to the audiobook, which provided an excellent performance of a well written story. The female lead is well developed. I didn't feel there was sufficient backstory to develop the male lead. I assume this is because it was written as an extended prologue and not a stand alone book. Marion Hussey's performance is outstanding. She voices characters distinctly and consistently. She imbues them with emotion consistent with the story. It did its job of making me want to hear the rest of the story.
217 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2025
This book starts off really slowly with a lot of angst from Lucy Lancester about how she could attract her brother’s best friend, Roman Alexander, whom she has loved forever. However, once the book gets past this with plans for Lucy to get what she wants, it becomes a very engrossing read. It has certainly piqued my interest enough for me to consider getting "The Art of Ruining A Rake", of which this book is a prologue.
Profile Image for Debbie Keith.
66 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2020
I don't normally go for prequels on their own, but thecharactersvif Lucy an Melbourne were so intriguing that I bought the full length novel thtt filollows it. Lucy I one determined young lady. Determined to have her school for young ladies, but first she absolutely must have one night ion the send of the arms of the man she longed for for 10 long years. Oh do be careful what you with for!
Profile Image for Mary Osterbrock.
2 reviews
July 27, 2021
So sorry. I think the woman is a nitwit and the object of her affection is, indeed, a cad unworthy of her misguided infatuation. With that kind of judgement, I sure as heck wouldn’t want her educating my daughters!
She, her sister and her brother seem to me to be a sad bunch, cursed by their wretched genes. I’d do my best to avoid the lot of them.
57 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2017
Great novella

Love the story of how Lucy seduced Roman, her love from childhood. You got a glimpse of the story from the first book in the series but now you know more details. Can't wait to read the next one to see how it goes for these two.
Profile Image for Sharon Eikenberry-Deary.
732 reviews5 followers
August 6, 2018
What to do when your love isn't returned

Lucy has love Roman since she was a young girl. He never knew she existed. At what lengths will Lucy take to get what she wants. She loves Roman yet she doesn't want to hurt him like her mother hurt her father.
11 reviews
August 30, 2018
Wonderful story, would have liked a longer ending, more about the school.

Left to much hanging at the end, I like more closure of the story line, I didn't feel satisfied with the outcome for Lucy
427 reviews5 followers
October 29, 2018
Such a good story

This was s much a good story but it h as d the stupidest ending I have ever read. I usually 'read the reviews before I buy a book but I didn't this time and I played for it.
Profile Image for Silver Marie.
22 reviews
November 13, 2018
A fun prologue

This long teaser will have you at the edge of your bed and then fall from it... You'd be hoping, crying, anxious, laughing in triumph and huffing in frustration. Definitely a fun read that leaves you wanting more of Lucy and Roman's cat and mouse game.
Profile Image for Evelyn Goughnour .
1,155 reviews
June 17, 2020
As a 25 year old in regency England this lady is not going to take no for an answer so she sets out to get her wish one night with the man she has been in love with her whole life the she will open her school and lead a spinsters life.
Profile Image for Kath.
829 reviews
February 1, 2021
An enjoyable short story of a very determined young women. She was steadfast in her ambition to have her own school for young ladies and be independent. Not one for marriage and especially to the rake she loved with all her heart, however she longed for one night with him. Would one be enough?
Profile Image for Devika Fernando.
Author 50 books197 followers
August 2, 2017
Entertaining and engaging, at turns intriguing, clever and sensual. Not too slow- or fast-paced, with a bit of suspense and a nicely fleshed-out heroine as well as an irresistible hero.
42 reviews
June 28, 2018
No Happy Ending

I could not believe the ending. We are left hanging with all the characters in the middle of their problems after a long book. UGH!!
6 reviews
October 9, 2018
Funny

She was young and unknowing of what she was doing she should have listened to her friends more when they said to think on it
Profile Image for Sharonb.
421 reviews2 followers
December 27, 2018
Unbelievable story for the age
Unlikeable characters
Will I read the sequel? NO! Too much better stuff to read
183 reviews1 follower
December 15, 2024
One of the longest first chapters ever read. 😫 I just can't get into a historical menace that is way to far fetched. Lessons from a courtesan, hope and helping the courtesan wins the brother.
256 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2017
INDECENTLY DONE

With sisters like Lucy and Delilah, no wonder Trestain abstained from women for seven years. Lucy had a plan and she was determined to succeed. Will one night be enough for her, for him? Thank you for an engaging story, Danny Scott.
Profile Image for Tin.
340 reviews110 followers
July 30, 2015
This e-novella is the prequel to Emma Locke's The Art of Ruining a Rake, and chronicles Lucy's planned seduction of Roman Alexander. Lucy has loved Roman from childhood, and, on the cusp of her spinsterhood, she has decided to take matters into her own hands and has planned for her one glorious night with the man of her dreams. Many would use this to lure men to marriage, but there's something different with Lucy's plan -- she plans to leave and begin her new life as headmistress of her own school. All she wants is the memory of Roman and the experience of Roman -- and nothing more.

"The trouble is, I'm in love with a man who would make a terrible husband, and yet I don't want to marry anyone else. I will have him once, because I cannot bear not to have him at all." Her voice wavered. "It shall have to be enough for a lifetime."
- Chapter 1


Lucy enlists the help of Celeste Grey, and I loved how Emma Locke timed Lucy's story to connect with Celeste and Trestin's story. When Celeste decides to help Lucy seduce Roman, we wonder what Celeste's motivations are: is it to punish Roman for his interference with her affairs? (There's a hint of Les Liaisons Dangereuses in that.) But unlike the French novel, Lucy is nobody's pawn -- she is her own person and acts according to her own will.

I did love the insight that Celeste brings -- how the act of seduction is a slow and gradual process -- how it has nothing to do with beauty, and a lot to do with attraction. I love that there wasn't any need to transform or improve Lucy's outward appearance (the Cinderella effect), but all that was needed was to change how she thought about herself.

Emma Locke uses the word "game" in the title, but there is also a very emotional (very heartbreaking) element in this e-novella -- and it's from the most unlikely person: Roman Alexander. Roman is transparent, yet impenetrable -- and this e-novella reveals what it is that our beautiful, broken angel of a hero wants most: to be loved. It's a bittersweet tragedy to be loved by all and, yet, not be loved at all. Roman is popular and well-liked -- but he yearns for that one authentic connection. How he breaks my heart when he bares himself to Lucy.

..."Tell me who it is who's captured your heart."

Misery flashed across his handsome face so quickly, she almost didn't see it. Then he was sporting his rakish smile again. "Must I pick just one?"

...

His eyes dimmed, a frown wrinkled his brow, and inside, Lucy died. He didn't fancy all the women in the world. Just one of them.

Someone who didn't return his affection.

...

"But does she know how you feel?"

He turned away and stared out over the dancers. "That I admire her? That she is part of my soul? My best friend, my right arm, the pillow on which I sleep at night? Life without her is gray and misery. Yes, Lucy-love, she knows."
- Chapter 7


On the technical side, Emma Locke really maximises the full power of Poe's single effect -- at the end of the novella, you are rooting for this couple. You want them to work out their personal issues, and work through the complications of their relationship, and get together. This book will leave you on a heart-wrenching cliffhanger -- but, thank goodness, the completion of this story is just a click away. ^_^
Profile Image for Adria's Musings.
843 reviews41 followers
January 29, 2016
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews

* A copy of this book was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.

So basically the story goes: Roman is Lucy’s brother’s best friend and a notorious rake but Lucy has been in love with Roman since she was 15 but at the same time she herself acknowledges that he isn’t worth her love. Still, she wishes Roman would do more than just politely see through her so she develops a plan that would give her what she wants before she becomes a spinster and opens up her girls’ school: One night with Roman.



I really think more authors should adopt this particular trend: Extended Prologues. It would allow for more of a story set up without dragging down an entire book. It’s kind of like a novella but with a particular goal. For authors whose books tend to lean more towards the detailed and lengthy side, I would love to see these extended prologues.

A Game of Persuasion basically shows readers what happened between Roman and Lucy that lead to him pursuing her in The Art of Ruining a Rake. For me, this extended prologue allowed me to really get a feel of Roman and Lucy’s history (which wasn’t much, she’s his best friend’s sister) but more importantly, Lucy’s long standing love for Roman.

I wanted to know if Lucy was a sensible character or was she painting Roman as some Prince Charming and casting herself as “The One” who would tame him. Surprisingly, while Lucy was painfully naïve in some areas like the reality of what her situation would be if she succeeded in her plan to seduce Roman, she was remarkably clear minded about just who Roman was. She knew he didn’t have much to recommend him except a pretty face and she harbored no illusions about a happy ending with him as her husband. This was what intrigued me about Lucy. She knew what Roman was but yet she was still hopelessly in love with him. What was it about this seemingly useless male that had her so enamored?

A Game of Persuasion didn’t answer that question but I didn’t expect it to. This is, after all only an extended prologue and it did what I had hoped it would and that was introduce me to this pair who had known each other for such a long time yet didn’t know each other as individuals. It left some interesting questions that I will take with me into Roman and Lucy’s official story. Emma Locke set out to whet the appetite and accomplished that.

Final Verdict: An extended prologue is a great idea for authors who write on the detailed, lengthy side but also for authors who want to give their readers something to chew on while they diligently work on the full length novel. If this is your first time reading an extended prologue be advised, it is a PROLOGUE which means that it isn’t going to have a conclusion. There IS a cliffhanger. Take it for what it the publisher says it is, bonus content or an introduction to the series.
Profile Image for Mariel Hoss.
689 reviews6 followers
August 25, 2016
*ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This is a prologue for the Art of Ruining A Rake and it sets up Lucy and Roman's story beautifully. This novella captures the history/backstory that gives you the primal feelings and motivations that propel them into the situations of the next book.

This prequel focuses more on Lucy's feelings, intent and plans. Lucy has been in love with Roman (a well-known rake and her brother's friend) since she was a young teen but she understands that Roman, as he is, is really not worthy of her love. She just wants a piece of the cake to eat and not the whole cake...which equates to one memorable night with Roman before she embarks on her plan for the future - opening up a girls school (which apparently equates to being a spinster). Enter Celeste as Lucy begs for help to persuade Roman. Let's just say that Celeste is a very effective teacher.

What follows is a delicious seduction, deliberate on Lucy's part and a bit reluctant on Roman's part. It's a quick, steamy and giggle-inducing read that will make you want to read the next book.

I wanted to know if Lucy was a sensible character or was she painting Roman as some Prince Charming and casting herself as “The One” who would tame him. Surprisingly, while Lucy was painfully naïve in some areas like the reality of what her situation would be if she succeeded in her plan to seduce Roman, she was remarkably clear minded about just who Roman was. She knew he didn’t have much to recommend him except a pretty face and she harbored no illusions about a happy ending with him as her husband. This was what intrigued me about Lucy. She knew what Roman was but yet she was still hopelessly in love with him. What was it about this seemingly useless male that had her so enamored?

A Game of Persuasion didn’t answer that question but I didn’t expect it to. This is, after all only an extended prologue and it did what I had hoped it would and that was introduce me to this pair who had known each other for such a long time yet didn’t know each other as individuals. It left some interesting questions that I will take with me into Roman and Lucy’s official story. Emma Locke set out to whet the appetite and accomplished that.

Final Verdict: An extended prologue is a great idea for authors who write on the detailed, lengthy side but also for authors who want to give their readers something to chew on while they diligently work on the full length novel. If this is your first time reading an extended prologue be advised, it is a PROLOGUE which means that it isn’t going to have a conclusion. There IS a cliffhanger. Take it for what it the publisher says it is, bonus content or an introduction to the series.
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