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Romancing the Rules #2
A Study in Scoundrels
Sophia Ruthven is the epitome of proper behavior. On paper at least, as long as that paper isn’t from one of the lady detective stories she secretly pens. She certainly isn’t interested in associating with the dashing Jasper Grey, the wayward heir to the Earl of Stanhope, and one of the stage’s leading men. But when she learns Grey’s younger sister Liddy has gone missing, she can’t deny her desire to solve the mystery…or her attraction to the incorrigible scoundrel.
Responsibility isn’t something Grey is very familiar with. On the boards and in the bedroom, he lives exactly how he wants to, shunning all the trappings of respectability and society. Grey knows he should avoid the bewitching Sophia, but he’s never been able to say no to what he wants. And having Sophia in his arms and his bed is quickly becoming the thing he wants the most.
As Sophia and Grey’s search for Liddy continues across the English countryside, can this scoundrel convince a proper lady that he’s actually perfect for her or will their adventure leave them both heartbroken?
Responsibility isn’t something Grey is very familiar with. On the boards and in the bedroom, he lives exactly how he wants to, shunning all the trappings of respectability and society. Grey knows he should avoid the bewitching Sophia, but he’s never been able to say no to what he wants. And having Sophia in his arms and his bed is quickly becoming the thing he wants the most.
As Sophia and Grey’s search for Liddy continues across the English countryside, can this scoundrel convince a proper lady that he’s actually perfect for her or will their adventure leave them both heartbroken?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2017
131 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Christy Carlyle
51 books554 followersFueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, USA Today bestselling author Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there's nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.
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April 14, 2017
Jasper Grey has shrugged off the responsibilities of his birth, and most of the proper behavior expected from a man in Victorian society: working as an actor when he’ not out living the life of an unrepentant scoundrel with drink, damsels and debauchery. Blessed with good looks, charm and a glib tongue, he’s not interested in assuming the mantle of ‘proper gentleman’ and his two day celebration of his most recent birthday was full of all he loved, including drink. But his responsibilities appear when he’s least prepared: hung over, still in recovery mode, he discovers his seventeen year old sister Liddy is missing, and presumed to be with a man. This could ruin her should word escape, so he must discover her whereabouts, return her home, and bury the incident.
Sophia Ruthven is the sister of Kit, whom we met in Rules for a Rogue . She’s the epitome of the family’s tome: Ruthven Rules of Etiquette, at least at first glance. But Sophia is far more complex than anyone would suspect. At twenty-six, she is firmly on the shelf mostly due to the family circumstances, for she is strikingly pretty, well-mannered, educated in the proper behaviors for a woman, and scandal free. Yet, she yearns for more. A huge mystery fan, she’s currently penning her own story, the first in a lady detective series. When she hears of Liddy’s disappearance at a tea she has been invited to, she instantly knows that she can use her not inconsiderable detecting skills to help find the girl. Three’s just one problem. Jasper Grey. While she wants romance and marriage, the drunken and debauched son of a Lord is hardly the perfect option.
Quickly Carlyle establishes the characters and setting, and we are off on a vivacious and very entertaining Victorian adventure. A touch madcap, with plenty of tension and attraction between the two as they try to discover the whereabouts of the missing Liddy. While on first glance, Sophia would appear to be rather proper and the epitome of a miss of the time, as Jasper believes, her depth and intelligence soon show him just how wrong he was. And fortunately, although Jasper uses his reputation (one he earned, mind) to keep her on her toes, their friendship moves from convenient for the purpose to true regard and honest feelings. Both uncover hidden (to the general public) depths and dreams, share laughter and frustrations, and proceed in ways that highlight both their beautiful development as characters and the often conflicting influences of society, the changing times, and their own reservations. From the moment where everything changes and the two just “click” as a couple, to the banter, stolen kisses and perfectly timed moments of pure joy contrasting with self-doubts and reservations, the characters, the plot and the pacing blend with just the right amounts of tension, a search and a mystery to make this a story that is hard to put down, and leaves you wishing for more.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed
Sophia Ruthven is the sister of Kit, whom we met in Rules for a Rogue . She’s the epitome of the family’s tome: Ruthven Rules of Etiquette, at least at first glance. But Sophia is far more complex than anyone would suspect. At twenty-six, she is firmly on the shelf mostly due to the family circumstances, for she is strikingly pretty, well-mannered, educated in the proper behaviors for a woman, and scandal free. Yet, she yearns for more. A huge mystery fan, she’s currently penning her own story, the first in a lady detective series. When she hears of Liddy’s disappearance at a tea she has been invited to, she instantly knows that she can use her not inconsiderable detecting skills to help find the girl. Three’s just one problem. Jasper Grey. While she wants romance and marriage, the drunken and debauched son of a Lord is hardly the perfect option.
Quickly Carlyle establishes the characters and setting, and we are off on a vivacious and very entertaining Victorian adventure. A touch madcap, with plenty of tension and attraction between the two as they try to discover the whereabouts of the missing Liddy. While on first glance, Sophia would appear to be rather proper and the epitome of a miss of the time, as Jasper believes, her depth and intelligence soon show him just how wrong he was. And fortunately, although Jasper uses his reputation (one he earned, mind) to keep her on her toes, their friendship moves from convenient for the purpose to true regard and honest feelings. Both uncover hidden (to the general public) depths and dreams, share laughter and frustrations, and proceed in ways that highlight both their beautiful development as characters and the often conflicting influences of society, the changing times, and their own reservations. From the moment where everything changes and the two just “click” as a couple, to the banter, stolen kisses and perfectly timed moments of pure joy contrasting with self-doubts and reservations, the characters, the plot and the pacing blend with just the right amounts of tension, a search and a mystery to make this a story that is hard to put down, and leaves you wishing for more.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility
This review was originally posted on I am, Indeed
April 12, 2017
Originally posted on Adria's Romance Reviews
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via 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? Super sensible Sophia spends her time doing research for her lady detective novels all while projecting an image of a proper lady. She doesn’t want anyone to tempt her into behaving scandalously, especially her brother’s friend Jasper Grey but when Grey’s sister Liddy goes missing, Sophia can’t resist the chance to help solve a real mystery. Even if it means spending a lot of time with Grey who has been avoiding his role as the Earl of Stanhope’s heir. Grey and Sophia end up tracking Liddy all over the countryside and in the process Grey starts falling for Sophia but his demons and her desire for a good marriage are keeping him from doing anything other than setting them both up for heartbreak.
Overall reaction to the story? Christy Carlyle has a new fan in me! A Study in Scoundrels is a lush, inviting story that swept me away from the very first page! Grey and Sophia were at first glance, total opposites but by the end I couldn’t imagine them with anyone else. My only complaint was that I didn’t feel Grey really faced his guilt and grief over what happened in the past. It was such a strong factor in who he was as an adult that it shouldn’t have been essentially swept under the rug the way it was. That big of a personal conflict should have been addressed before the end.
Describe the hero in five words: Troubled. Intelligent. Caring. Stubborn. Reluctant.
Did you like him? Yes.
Why? Grey was so torn up about how he came to be the heir to the Earl of Stanhope that it shaped who he became as a man and what he did in his day to day life. His traumatic experience did bring me to tears which isn’t easy to do. I was so heartbroken for this character that I was ready to forgive him for any wild behavior. He was such a tragic figure, carrying around so much grief and guilt that it was slowly crushing him. Ugh, just thinking about it has me wanting to cry for this guy all over again. Grey wasn’t the scoundrel everyone thought he was either. He was surprisingly caring and didn’t take advantage of anyone who couldn’t fight back. I loved that about him! He was suffering but he refused to make anyone else suffer.
Describe the heroine in five words: Clever. Kind. Curious. Determined. Talented.
Did you like her? Yes.
Why? Sophia wasn’t a character who faded into the wallpaper in a room. She wasn’t over the top or obvious in her behavior but she was a strong woman. She would have to be in order to be a writer of lady detective novels in that era. My favorite things about her were her curious mind and her kind heart, no matter what Sophia wanted to help anyone that was hurting, including Grey. Against her better judgment she wants to help him and his sister Liddy. Sophia had a hidden sense of humor and a dash of sass in her too and that made an already likable character even better to me. She wasn’t a silly little girl; she was a grown woman who was just open and practical about the world around her. She was refreshing.
Let’s talk about the romance: I’m not really one for slow burn romances because there’s usually a lot of “filler scenes” that are unnecessary but that wasn’t the case in A Study in Scoundrels. Christy Carlyle’s inclusion of Grey’s missing sister provided two things: An adventure, and more time for a convincing romance to build. There was already a strong physical attraction between Grey and Sophia but Carlyle was meticulous in making sure there was an equally strong emotional connection as well. One that was completely believable.
How about that supporting cast? There aren’t many side characters but a few do make appearances. Sophia’s brother and his wife make brief appearances as do a handful of others but it was Grey’s sister Liddy who had the most page time after the two leads. I found her silly and immature and a number of times she got on my nerves. Maybe it was because she was so young but she pulled a pretty stupid stunt in a fit of childish “love” that should have gotten her into more trouble than it did.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. Christy Carlyle’s style of writing is infectious in the best sort of way! A Study in Scoundrels was so enjoyable I quickly bought the first book in the series.
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via 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? Super sensible Sophia spends her time doing research for her lady detective novels all while projecting an image of a proper lady. She doesn’t want anyone to tempt her into behaving scandalously, especially her brother’s friend Jasper Grey but when Grey’s sister Liddy goes missing, Sophia can’t resist the chance to help solve a real mystery. Even if it means spending a lot of time with Grey who has been avoiding his role as the Earl of Stanhope’s heir. Grey and Sophia end up tracking Liddy all over the countryside and in the process Grey starts falling for Sophia but his demons and her desire for a good marriage are keeping him from doing anything other than setting them both up for heartbreak.
Overall reaction to the story? Christy Carlyle has a new fan in me! A Study in Scoundrels is a lush, inviting story that swept me away from the very first page! Grey and Sophia were at first glance, total opposites but by the end I couldn’t imagine them with anyone else. My only complaint was that I didn’t feel Grey really faced his guilt and grief over what happened in the past. It was such a strong factor in who he was as an adult that it shouldn’t have been essentially swept under the rug the way it was. That big of a personal conflict should have been addressed before the end.
Describe the hero in five words: Troubled. Intelligent. Caring. Stubborn. Reluctant.
Did you like him? Yes.
Why? Grey was so torn up about how he came to be the heir to the Earl of Stanhope that it shaped who he became as a man and what he did in his day to day life. His traumatic experience did bring me to tears which isn’t easy to do. I was so heartbroken for this character that I was ready to forgive him for any wild behavior. He was such a tragic figure, carrying around so much grief and guilt that it was slowly crushing him. Ugh, just thinking about it has me wanting to cry for this guy all over again. Grey wasn’t the scoundrel everyone thought he was either. He was surprisingly caring and didn’t take advantage of anyone who couldn’t fight back. I loved that about him! He was suffering but he refused to make anyone else suffer.
Describe the heroine in five words: Clever. Kind. Curious. Determined. Talented.
Did you like her? Yes.
Why? Sophia wasn’t a character who faded into the wallpaper in a room. She wasn’t over the top or obvious in her behavior but she was a strong woman. She would have to be in order to be a writer of lady detective novels in that era. My favorite things about her were her curious mind and her kind heart, no matter what Sophia wanted to help anyone that was hurting, including Grey. Against her better judgment she wants to help him and his sister Liddy. Sophia had a hidden sense of humor and a dash of sass in her too and that made an already likable character even better to me. She wasn’t a silly little girl; she was a grown woman who was just open and practical about the world around her. She was refreshing.
Let’s talk about the romance: I’m not really one for slow burn romances because there’s usually a lot of “filler scenes” that are unnecessary but that wasn’t the case in A Study in Scoundrels. Christy Carlyle’s inclusion of Grey’s missing sister provided two things: An adventure, and more time for a convincing romance to build. There was already a strong physical attraction between Grey and Sophia but Carlyle was meticulous in making sure there was an equally strong emotional connection as well. One that was completely believable.
How about that supporting cast? There aren’t many side characters but a few do make appearances. Sophia’s brother and his wife make brief appearances as do a handful of others but it was Grey’s sister Liddy who had the most page time after the two leads. I found her silly and immature and a number of times she got on my nerves. Maybe it was because she was so young but she pulled a pretty stupid stunt in a fit of childish “love” that should have gotten her into more trouble than it did.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. Christy Carlyle’s style of writing is infectious in the best sort of way! A Study in Scoundrels was so enjoyable I quickly bought the first book in the series.
April 9, 2017
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
5 Stars
A Study in Scoundrels is the second installment in the Romancing the Rules series. I adored the first in the series, and enjoyed this almost as much.
Now that Sophia's brother is married and their little sister is away at school, her life includes taking care of someone else's house, family, needs and wants. She doesn't want to be the family's spinster sister for life. The writer is looking for a husband to spend her life with, to create a life with, someone who will understand who she is and not force her abide by the archaic rules her father put into place.
Grey is Sophia's brother's best friend, so she knows the actor in passing, including his reputation as a scoundrel. The opener of the novel features why Grey is the way he is, making him completely sympathetic to readers.
Sophia seems to be a magnet for shady men trying to take advantage, and Grey interrupts such a time, which is how the two are thrown together in adventure. Sophia is a sucker for who-done-its, writing a mystery novel, and is looking to study a scoundrel to write the part accurately. Thrust together in a whirlwind to location Grey's missing 16yo sister, the pair discover that opposites definitely attract.
Both Sophia and Grey are flawed yet realistic characters- easy to connect to, their banter and push-pull, will-they-won't-they romance was a decadent treat. Grey is dealing with issues from the past, haunting him, lending the angst portion to the story. His little sister and cousin-in-law are a welcome addition to the story, as well as Sophia's housekeeper, Cate. It's obvious to spot who will be getting the next few stories, as there was plenty of groundwork laid on the pages. (The sister, though... le sigh)
Carlyle has a quick, easy to read writing style that draws the reader in from page-one until the end. The scenes are set without a ton of unnecessary detailing, and the romance feels real without being bogged down with flowery purple prose. After spending a relaxing afternoon with a smile on my face, I thoroughly enjoyed A Study in Scoundrels, and am impatiently awaiting the next in the series.
5 Stars
A Study in Scoundrels is the second installment in the Romancing the Rules series. I adored the first in the series, and enjoyed this almost as much.
Now that Sophia's brother is married and their little sister is away at school, her life includes taking care of someone else's house, family, needs and wants. She doesn't want to be the family's spinster sister for life. The writer is looking for a husband to spend her life with, to create a life with, someone who will understand who she is and not force her abide by the archaic rules her father put into place.
Grey is Sophia's brother's best friend, so she knows the actor in passing, including his reputation as a scoundrel. The opener of the novel features why Grey is the way he is, making him completely sympathetic to readers.
Sophia seems to be a magnet for shady men trying to take advantage, and Grey interrupts such a time, which is how the two are thrown together in adventure. Sophia is a sucker for who-done-its, writing a mystery novel, and is looking to study a scoundrel to write the part accurately. Thrust together in a whirlwind to location Grey's missing 16yo sister, the pair discover that opposites definitely attract.
Both Sophia and Grey are flawed yet realistic characters- easy to connect to, their banter and push-pull, will-they-won't-they romance was a decadent treat. Grey is dealing with issues from the past, haunting him, lending the angst portion to the story. His little sister and cousin-in-law are a welcome addition to the story, as well as Sophia's housekeeper, Cate. It's obvious to spot who will be getting the next few stories, as there was plenty of groundwork laid on the pages. (The sister, though... le sigh)
Carlyle has a quick, easy to read writing style that draws the reader in from page-one until the end. The scenes are set without a ton of unnecessary detailing, and the romance feels real without being bogged down with flowery purple prose. After spending a relaxing afternoon with a smile on my face, I thoroughly enjoyed A Study in Scoundrels, and am impatiently awaiting the next in the series.
April 3, 2017
After two nights of debauchery celebrating his birthday, cold reality comes knocking at Jasper Grey’s door. A friend from the past informs him that his seventeen year-old sister Liddy is missing, she might be with a man, and the whole sordid episode must, understandably, remain hush-hush. How will Grey ever find his sister if he can’t even alert the authorities?
Sophia Ruthven is fond of detective stories, she has even started to write her own, but she is also the co-author of a rejuvenated etiquette guide. Sophia had been invited to speak at a book club tea, but instead she stumbles upon hearing of Liddy’s disappearance. Grey is an acquaintance of Sophia’s brother Kit, so what a grand idea to put her detective skills to good use in helping Grey! Sophia is twenty six, very pretty, and still a spinster because no man has ever asked for her hand in marriage, still she yearns for a husband and family, but not just anyone, and certainly not a scoundrel the likes of Grey! While she can’t deny her attraction to the whoring drunkard, he is an interesting subject for the male character in her book, but only that.
Is there such a thing as a cozy historical romance mystery? In any case, Christy Carlyle swept me right off to Victorian England in her bright and lively tale of a dishevelled scoundrel and a very proper miss. Ms. Carlyle writes such meaty characters, so well defined that they come to life before our very eyes, and I just loved how the romance developed unfolded between that mismatched pair, and not at all as I expected. Sophia and Grey acted as I hoped they would, and not as most writers would have made them act; they were entirely believable ever step of the way. I thought the search for Liddy was merely a pretext for getting Sophia and Grey together, and in a way it is, but it is much more than that as it is also a clear picture of the Victorian era as a time of change, especially for women, but also how one little misstep could ruin a life. I loved the little episode with Sophia’s younger sister Clary, and I hope to see her story in the future, as it illustrates what I just wrote about.
I loved the banter and the sexual tension between Sophia and Grey; their affection was obvious, and his respect for her touching. And that “serendipitous” moment at the train station took my breath away: such a simple moment, and as meaningful as a whole book; not much is said, nothing much happens, and my heart soared! It’s the precise moment when you realise that everything has changed between Sophia and Grey, and thinking about it again while writing fills me with wonder. A STUDY IN SCOUNDRELS is a splendid romance, perfectly paced, with just the right touch of suspense, of humour, and wonderfully complex characters with solid backstories. Those heated glances, those stolen kisses, those little moments which lead to superb sex scenes, which happen at the right time, for the right reasons, and leave both Sophia and Grey elated and full of doubts. Christy Carlyle gave me once again has given me everything I hope for in a historical romance: a solid story, very appealing characters, not one dull little paragraph, and a romance I believed in and captured my heart.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
Sophia Ruthven is fond of detective stories, she has even started to write her own, but she is also the co-author of a rejuvenated etiquette guide. Sophia had been invited to speak at a book club tea, but instead she stumbles upon hearing of Liddy’s disappearance. Grey is an acquaintance of Sophia’s brother Kit, so what a grand idea to put her detective skills to good use in helping Grey! Sophia is twenty six, very pretty, and still a spinster because no man has ever asked for her hand in marriage, still she yearns for a husband and family, but not just anyone, and certainly not a scoundrel the likes of Grey! While she can’t deny her attraction to the whoring drunkard, he is an interesting subject for the male character in her book, but only that.
Is there such a thing as a cozy historical romance mystery? In any case, Christy Carlyle swept me right off to Victorian England in her bright and lively tale of a dishevelled scoundrel and a very proper miss. Ms. Carlyle writes such meaty characters, so well defined that they come to life before our very eyes, and I just loved how the romance developed unfolded between that mismatched pair, and not at all as I expected. Sophia and Grey acted as I hoped they would, and not as most writers would have made them act; they were entirely believable ever step of the way. I thought the search for Liddy was merely a pretext for getting Sophia and Grey together, and in a way it is, but it is much more than that as it is also a clear picture of the Victorian era as a time of change, especially for women, but also how one little misstep could ruin a life. I loved the little episode with Sophia’s younger sister Clary, and I hope to see her story in the future, as it illustrates what I just wrote about.
I loved the banter and the sexual tension between Sophia and Grey; their affection was obvious, and his respect for her touching. And that “serendipitous” moment at the train station took my breath away: such a simple moment, and as meaningful as a whole book; not much is said, nothing much happens, and my heart soared! It’s the precise moment when you realise that everything has changed between Sophia and Grey, and thinking about it again while writing fills me with wonder. A STUDY IN SCOUNDRELS is a splendid romance, perfectly paced, with just the right touch of suspense, of humour, and wonderfully complex characters with solid backstories. Those heated glances, those stolen kisses, those little moments which lead to superb sex scenes, which happen at the right time, for the right reasons, and leave both Sophia and Grey elated and full of doubts. Christy Carlyle gave me once again has given me everything I hope for in a historical romance: a solid story, very appealing characters, not one dull little paragraph, and a romance I believed in and captured my heart.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
April 11, 2017
I did not read the first book of this series, but you can bet you knickers that I will be going back to read it after reading this hair-raising race across England and Sophia. She seems to be the proper English lady but she did some things she ought not do. I found her fun and a bit exciting. She knew her own mind and knew what was the right thing to do. She just did not always do the right things.
There was just something about Grey that had me on his side from the very beginning. I could understand where he was coming from and why he made the choices he made. It helped that Carlyle laid much of Grey out for us right from the start. He was a man’s man. The was rebellious in nature. He knew the right things to do but he too did not follow this structure often. The one thing that he did know without any doubt was that Sophia was going to be in his bed one way or another. Be damn that she was the sister of his best friend. What does that tell you?
I had a great time reading his one and getting to know Grey and Sophia. I loved seeing them both for who they were and not what others wanted them to be. I even enjoyed the secondary characters. They added some extras to the various scenes. The flow of the book was just so you did not realize so much time had passed by. I was excited to get to the next page just to see what, why, how Sophia and Grey ended up in, on, around etc. . . . I look forward to the next book in this series, but must first go back and read the first book of the series. Thank you Christy Carlyle I had great fun in the English countryside.
There was just something about Grey that had me on his side from the very beginning. I could understand where he was coming from and why he made the choices he made. It helped that Carlyle laid much of Grey out for us right from the start. He was a man’s man. The was rebellious in nature. He knew the right things to do but he too did not follow this structure often. The one thing that he did know without any doubt was that Sophia was going to be in his bed one way or another. Be damn that she was the sister of his best friend. What does that tell you?
I had a great time reading his one and getting to know Grey and Sophia. I loved seeing them both for who they were and not what others wanted them to be. I even enjoyed the secondary characters. They added some extras to the various scenes. The flow of the book was just so you did not realize so much time had passed by. I was excited to get to the next page just to see what, why, how Sophia and Grey ended up in, on, around etc. . . . I look forward to the next book in this series, but must first go back and read the first book of the series. Thank you Christy Carlyle I had great fun in the English countryside.
April 13, 2017
This was fun, and engaging. Easy to read this without having read book 1. Looking forward to reading more from this series and author!
April 10, 2017
- intriguing, captivating and lovely. A whooping 4.3 stars read that hooks you from page one. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to everyone who loves to read romance and feisty heroines. The characters were engaging and lovely,the plot unique and fabulous and the prose flowing and engaging
April 30, 2017
Book Review For: 'A Study in Scoundrels' by Christy Carlyle 'A Study in Scoundrels' by Christy Carlyle is book Two in the "Romancing the Rules" series. This is the story of Sophia Ruthven and Jasper Grey. I have read the previous book but fell this can easily be a standalone book. Sophia writes detective stories so she is always looking around for information or help with her stories. But she comes off very prim and proper but Sophia isn't really that way. She was a strong character that knew she wanted to be married and not just a writer. Sophia had been writing to a man she 'met' via the newspaper. Jasper is the really bad rake who after the lost of his brother seem to step away from his family. Jasper has taken up the acting and parting life style. But when he hears his sister has gone missing he comes forward to try to discretely find her before the town and his father finds out. When confronting a man he thinks his sister might have been duped by he meets up with Sophia who was hiding out in the man's library. Sophia overhears that his sister is missing. Sophia starts to try and help Jasper find his sister. Jasper finds Sophia breathtaking and knows that she is to prime and proper for him but that doesn't stop him from wanting her. I am such a big fan of Ms. Carlyle that I was over the moon in getting a chance to read this book. I can't wait for more in this series and by Ms. Carlyle! "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read." https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR... https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091... https://twitter.com/soapsrus68 https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/ https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp... http://booklikes.com/blog https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo... https://plus.google.com/+SissyHicks https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
April 12, 2017
This review was copied from my romance novel review blog: romanticallyinclinedreviews.blogspot.com
Title: A Study in Scoundrels (Romancing the Rules #2)
Author: Christy Carlyle
Publication Date: April 11, 2017
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Blurb from Goodreads:
Sophia Ruthven is the epitome of proper behavior. On paper at least, as long as that paper isn’t from one of the lady detective stories she secretly pens. She certainly isn’t interested in associating with the dashing Jasper Grey, the wayward heir to the Earl of Stanhope, and one of the stage’s leading men. But when she learns Grey’s younger sister Liddy has gone missing, she can’t deny her desire to solve the mystery…or her attraction to the incorrigible scoundrel.
Responsibility isn’t something Grey is very familiar with. On the boards and in the bedroom, he lives exactly how he wants to, shunning all the trappings of respectability and society. Grey knows he should avoid the bewitching Sophia, but he’s never been able to say no to what he wants. And having Sophia in his arms and his bed is quickly becoming the thing he wants the most.
As Sophia and Grey’s search for Liddy continues across the English countryside, can this scoundrel convince a proper lady that he’s actually perfect for her or will their adventure leave them both heartbroken?
Review:
Is it just me or is there something freaking hot about the proper English language used in these regency romance novels. For those who aren’t familiar with the term regency romance novels I have provided this Google translation: Regency romances are a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency (1811–1820) or early 19th century. Rather than simply being versions of contemporary romance stories transported to a historical setting, Regency romances are a distinct genre with their own plot and stylistic conventions. Now, back to the hotness factor: the way the characters in these novels speak to one another makes me long for days where men shouted, “Show me your knickers” out of moving stagecoaches rather than “Show me your tits” from moving cars. Okay, I exaggerate.
As is my tradition with these reviews lately this is the first novel I’ve ever read by Christy Carlyle. I often find myself searching out regency novels with abandon because, as I mentioned, I love the language, the banter between characters, and the rarity of independent women. Have I mentioned how much I adore independent women? In contemporary novels every female character these days is a powerful, independent women which is positively awesome, but in regency novels strong females are usually seen as disappointments to womankind and there’s something so satisfying when they get the man regardless.
In A Study of Scoundrels Sophia isn’t the ‘strong, independent woman’ that we discussed previously. She’s your average girl who’s trying to be a proper young lady, but being tempted by the ungodly handsome and incorrigible Jasper Grey. I feel as though we can all relate to that; trying to be our very best but always being led astray. She’s a very real character. Resilient, but not so much so that she doesn’t doubt herself from time to time.
And Grey. His story line is so sad, right from the very start. I found tears in my eyes and not happy ones, which is odd for a romance novel. You never expect them to make you cry. Actually, you probably hope they don’t make you cry, but don’t worry! The tears are short-lived. You’ll find yourself laughing at Grey’s wit and charm much more often than you find yourself wanting to wrap him in a hug to squeeze the hurt away.
The storyline is rather tame as far as storylines go, but the depth of the characters more than makes up for the somewhat basic plot. It was cute and there was some mystery to it, so I don’t want to make you think that it was tedious or not worth your time, because it is! It’s just not the nail-biter that regency novels tend to be (with all that scandal and drama that London is known for).
If you want a curious mystery being solves by two amateur detectives with explosive chemistry then you should give this book a read. You won’t be disappointed. The book came out today: April 11, 2017.
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Title: A Study in Scoundrels (Romancing the Rules #2)
Author: Christy Carlyle
Publication Date: April 11, 2017
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Blurb from Goodreads:
Sophia Ruthven is the epitome of proper behavior. On paper at least, as long as that paper isn’t from one of the lady detective stories she secretly pens. She certainly isn’t interested in associating with the dashing Jasper Grey, the wayward heir to the Earl of Stanhope, and one of the stage’s leading men. But when she learns Grey’s younger sister Liddy has gone missing, she can’t deny her desire to solve the mystery…or her attraction to the incorrigible scoundrel.
Responsibility isn’t something Grey is very familiar with. On the boards and in the bedroom, he lives exactly how he wants to, shunning all the trappings of respectability and society. Grey knows he should avoid the bewitching Sophia, but he’s never been able to say no to what he wants. And having Sophia in his arms and his bed is quickly becoming the thing he wants the most.
As Sophia and Grey’s search for Liddy continues across the English countryside, can this scoundrel convince a proper lady that he’s actually perfect for her or will their adventure leave them both heartbroken?
Review:
Is it just me or is there something freaking hot about the proper English language used in these regency romance novels. For those who aren’t familiar with the term regency romance novels I have provided this Google translation: Regency romances are a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency (1811–1820) or early 19th century. Rather than simply being versions of contemporary romance stories transported to a historical setting, Regency romances are a distinct genre with their own plot and stylistic conventions. Now, back to the hotness factor: the way the characters in these novels speak to one another makes me long for days where men shouted, “Show me your knickers” out of moving stagecoaches rather than “Show me your tits” from moving cars. Okay, I exaggerate.
As is my tradition with these reviews lately this is the first novel I’ve ever read by Christy Carlyle. I often find myself searching out regency novels with abandon because, as I mentioned, I love the language, the banter between characters, and the rarity of independent women. Have I mentioned how much I adore independent women? In contemporary novels every female character these days is a powerful, independent women which is positively awesome, but in regency novels strong females are usually seen as disappointments to womankind and there’s something so satisfying when they get the man regardless.
In A Study of Scoundrels Sophia isn’t the ‘strong, independent woman’ that we discussed previously. She’s your average girl who’s trying to be a proper young lady, but being tempted by the ungodly handsome and incorrigible Jasper Grey. I feel as though we can all relate to that; trying to be our very best but always being led astray. She’s a very real character. Resilient, but not so much so that she doesn’t doubt herself from time to time.
And Grey. His story line is so sad, right from the very start. I found tears in my eyes and not happy ones, which is odd for a romance novel. You never expect them to make you cry. Actually, you probably hope they don’t make you cry, but don’t worry! The tears are short-lived. You’ll find yourself laughing at Grey’s wit and charm much more often than you find yourself wanting to wrap him in a hug to squeeze the hurt away.
The storyline is rather tame as far as storylines go, but the depth of the characters more than makes up for the somewhat basic plot. It was cute and there was some mystery to it, so I don’t want to make you think that it was tedious or not worth your time, because it is! It’s just not the nail-biter that regency novels tend to be (with all that scandal and drama that London is known for).
If you want a curious mystery being solves by two amateur detectives with explosive chemistry then you should give this book a read. You won’t be disappointed. The book came out today: April 11, 2017.
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April 14, 2017
Originally post on the blog What the Cat Read.
As the second book in Carlyle’s Romancing the Rules series, I enjoyed this book much more than the first, and I’m looking forward to continuing this series as more books come out. Fans of Carlyle’s novels and of historical romances will want to add this title to their lists of books to read in the coming weeks.
I’ve wanted Sophia’s story ever since I met her in Rules for a Rogue, so I was excited to learn more about her in this novel, and I was also looking forward to learning more about Grey, too. There was no question that these two would end up together, it was simply a matter when and of how would they connect. Sophia is a proper society lady, she’s never questioned the rules of etiquette, and has spent the majority of her life caring for her family. She’s as close to a spinster as a woman could be without actually being one. Yet she’s also a woman who craves adventure and excitement, as evidence by her writing mystery novels. Grey is her complete opposite. He’s a scoundrel of the highest order and an actor. He cares nothing for displays of proper behavior or being responsible, he prefers to live of carefree enjoyment. But he’s not as carefree as he appears, Grey harbors a painful past which he is running from. Together they complete each other and provide just the right amount of incentive to change and find the happiness they both deserve.
I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow as the story progressed. Theirs is a slow build affair, both initially denying their attraction, but fate and Grey’s sister keep bringing them back together. I honestly can’t imagine Sophia ending up with anyone other than Grey. She’s his voice of reason, someone who is able to understand his pain and help him find his way through it, while he’s her motivation to live and let loose every once in a while.
Likewise I enjoyed seeing Sophia’s siblings again, if only for brief cameos, and meeting Grey’s family. Liddy, Grey’s sister, is your typical teenager. Some might call her a brat and may find her overly annoying, but she struck me as behaving as many a sixteen/seventeen year old would behave nowadays, which is to shun proper decorum and get into trouble. I can’t fault her acting as she did, even if I was rolling my eyes the entire time. Cate, Sophia’s friend and housekeeper, was a gem. I instantly loved her and couldn’t help but smile every time she nudged Sophia to follow her heart while acting like that wasn’t what she was doing. If there was a matchmaker in this book, Cate filled the role perfectly.
As for the writing, the pacing of this book was much smoother and didn’t drag as much as the first book did for me. The search for Liddy helped keep the story moving, and it allowed for plenty of will they/won’t they moments both in regards to whether they would find her, and if so in what condition, and whether Sophia and Grey would give in to their desire for the other. I also enjoyed the idea of Sophia actually “investigating” Liddy’s disappearance and taking on her character’s role of detective, regardless that it was just Sophia using common sense and thinking as a young woman would think. She accomplished more than Grey did regardless.
This is a wonderful addition to what is turning into a lovely series and I’m greatly looking forward to reading Clary’s novel later this year. I also hope that Carlyle considers continuing the series and allowing Liddy and Juliet to have stories of their own. Honestly, if you haven’t given the Romancing the Rules series a try, what is stopping you? Take a moment and give the Ruthven siblings a try, I promise you won’t regret it.
As the second book in Carlyle’s Romancing the Rules series, I enjoyed this book much more than the first, and I’m looking forward to continuing this series as more books come out. Fans of Carlyle’s novels and of historical romances will want to add this title to their lists of books to read in the coming weeks.
I’ve wanted Sophia’s story ever since I met her in Rules for a Rogue, so I was excited to learn more about her in this novel, and I was also looking forward to learning more about Grey, too. There was no question that these two would end up together, it was simply a matter when and of how would they connect. Sophia is a proper society lady, she’s never questioned the rules of etiquette, and has spent the majority of her life caring for her family. She’s as close to a spinster as a woman could be without actually being one. Yet she’s also a woman who craves adventure and excitement, as evidence by her writing mystery novels. Grey is her complete opposite. He’s a scoundrel of the highest order and an actor. He cares nothing for displays of proper behavior or being responsible, he prefers to live of carefree enjoyment. But he’s not as carefree as he appears, Grey harbors a painful past which he is running from. Together they complete each other and provide just the right amount of incentive to change and find the happiness they both deserve.
I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow as the story progressed. Theirs is a slow build affair, both initially denying their attraction, but fate and Grey’s sister keep bringing them back together. I honestly can’t imagine Sophia ending up with anyone other than Grey. She’s his voice of reason, someone who is able to understand his pain and help him find his way through it, while he’s her motivation to live and let loose every once in a while.
Likewise I enjoyed seeing Sophia’s siblings again, if only for brief cameos, and meeting Grey’s family. Liddy, Grey’s sister, is your typical teenager. Some might call her a brat and may find her overly annoying, but she struck me as behaving as many a sixteen/seventeen year old would behave nowadays, which is to shun proper decorum and get into trouble. I can’t fault her acting as she did, even if I was rolling my eyes the entire time. Cate, Sophia’s friend and housekeeper, was a gem. I instantly loved her and couldn’t help but smile every time she nudged Sophia to follow her heart while acting like that wasn’t what she was doing. If there was a matchmaker in this book, Cate filled the role perfectly.
As for the writing, the pacing of this book was much smoother and didn’t drag as much as the first book did for me. The search for Liddy helped keep the story moving, and it allowed for plenty of will they/won’t they moments both in regards to whether they would find her, and if so in what condition, and whether Sophia and Grey would give in to their desire for the other. I also enjoyed the idea of Sophia actually “investigating” Liddy’s disappearance and taking on her character’s role of detective, regardless that it was just Sophia using common sense and thinking as a young woman would think. She accomplished more than Grey did regardless.
This is a wonderful addition to what is turning into a lovely series and I’m greatly looking forward to reading Clary’s novel later this year. I also hope that Carlyle considers continuing the series and allowing Liddy and Juliet to have stories of their own. Honestly, if you haven’t given the Romancing the Rules series a try, what is stopping you? Take a moment and give the Ruthven siblings a try, I promise you won’t regret it.
dnf
April 13, 2017I’m reluctantly DNF-ing this book for two main reasons: my lack of interest in the nonsensical storyline(s) and the absence of any chemistry between the main couple.
The focal point of the plot was Grey’s search for his runaway sister Liddy, and it seemed Sophia just happened to be there to go along for the ride. This ‘leads thrown together and sparks fly’ situation has always worked for me in the past but for some reason, it didn’t work here. To me it almost read like insert hero A and heroine B into plot 1; the whole thing felt forced. Meanwhile, Sophia and Grey’s connection at the beginning was tenuous at best (Grey is a friend of her brother, Kit) and it seemed as if I was supposed to feel more between them than what was actually presented on the page. I mean, they met ONE TIME in the previous book: Grey flirted, Sophia shut him down and that was it. Yet apparently that was enough to develop this crazy attraction for each other that only manifested itself when they randomly met again via contrived circumstances. I just...didn’t buy it. Maybe I didn’t give their romance enough time to really evolve into something more meaningful, but I was so bored at this point that I didn’t care to know for sure.
As for the story itself, it seemed like there was too much going on and not enough at the same time. I know, that makes no sense but I’ll try to explain. Lemme count out the plots one by one: we had the rescue of Grey’s sister from ruination plot, Sophia’s correspondence with a would-be suitor plot, Sophia’s secret writing of detective novels plot (I WANTED MORE OF THAT!), Grey’s crippling guilt over the death of his brother plot and of course the supposed romantic plot, and I couldn’t connect with ANY OF IT. Basically I had this tangled mess of plots propped up by a romance that made no sense to me and the DNF was the end result.
I will say that from what I did read, I really liked Sophia as a heroine. She was the perfect combination of fire and ice and I appreciated how Grey saw and loved that duel aspect to her personality. Also the subplot involving her answering a personal ad in the newspaper and the exchanging of letters that followed really intrigued me. I had no idea personal ads were even a thing back then! I almost wish that had been Grey and Sophia’s story instead; meeting via the personals, LETTERS!!!, and then finally meeting in real life or something along those lines. Maybe then my heart would’ve been more invested, but that wasn’t the book I was given. Oh well. Perhaps the next book in the series will be more to my liking. I can only assume that the heroine will be Kit and Sophia’s hellion wallflower sister Clarissa so fingers crossed it’ll be great! A book about Sophia’s clever housekeeper Cate would be welcomed as well /hint hint/
The focal point of the plot was Grey’s search for his runaway sister Liddy, and it seemed Sophia just happened to be there to go along for the ride. This ‘leads thrown together and sparks fly’ situation has always worked for me in the past but for some reason, it didn’t work here. To me it almost read like insert hero A and heroine B into plot 1; the whole thing felt forced. Meanwhile, Sophia and Grey’s connection at the beginning was tenuous at best (Grey is a friend of her brother, Kit) and it seemed as if I was supposed to feel more between them than what was actually presented on the page. I mean, they met ONE TIME in the previous book: Grey flirted, Sophia shut him down and that was it. Yet apparently that was enough to develop this crazy attraction for each other that only manifested itself when they randomly met again via contrived circumstances. I just...didn’t buy it. Maybe I didn’t give their romance enough time to really evolve into something more meaningful, but I was so bored at this point that I didn’t care to know for sure.
As for the story itself, it seemed like there was too much going on and not enough at the same time. I know, that makes no sense but I’ll try to explain. Lemme count out the plots one by one: we had the rescue of Grey’s sister from ruination plot, Sophia’s correspondence with a would-be suitor plot, Sophia’s secret writing of detective novels plot (I WANTED MORE OF THAT!), Grey’s crippling guilt over the death of his brother plot and of course the supposed romantic plot, and I couldn’t connect with ANY OF IT. Basically I had this tangled mess of plots propped up by a romance that made no sense to me and the DNF was the end result.
I will say that from what I did read, I really liked Sophia as a heroine. She was the perfect combination of fire and ice and I appreciated how Grey saw and loved that duel aspect to her personality. Also the subplot involving her answering a personal ad in the newspaper and the exchanging of letters that followed really intrigued me. I had no idea personal ads were even a thing back then! I almost wish that had been Grey and Sophia’s story instead; meeting via the personals, LETTERS!!!, and then finally meeting in real life or something along those lines. Maybe then my heart would’ve been more invested, but that wasn’t the book I was given. Oh well. Perhaps the next book in the series will be more to my liking. I can only assume that the heroine will be Kit and Sophia’s hellion wallflower sister Clarissa so fingers crossed it’ll be great! A book about Sophia’s clever housekeeper Cate would be welcomed as well /hint hint/
April 12, 2017
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
A scoundrel needs help from a lady and gets so much more in return!
Grey is a titled gentleman but don't you dare remind him of this fact. He's content to live out his life as an actor, putting on a facade for the public and drinking away his misery behind the scenes. His life is filled with women who know the score. He isn't looking for a marriage.
Sophia wants nothing but a marriage. She won't settle for anything less. She's even so desperate as to look to the newspaper for her potential match. But when she crosses paths with Grey, she finds a purpose in helping to locate a missing girl.
The hunt for Grey's sister is a mystery that neither of our couple can solve on their own. As our pair follow clues, they begin to develop a trust in each other that leads to an unlikely relationship made up of steamy encounters. Soon, neither of the two can imagine living a life with anyone else. Or alone.
I usually like historical romances but almost always find something I don't like about each one. Sometimes they're too long. Other times I find the characters to be stiff or underdeveloped. I've even found one or two with too little scandal, a theme that's present in just about every historical romance.
This book took me by surprise. The epilogue caused my heart to break and soon after we're introduced to our main characters in a shocking way. I wasn't so sure that I was going to like Grey, at first. But he quickly grew on me and I can honestly say that he's found a place in my top five rogues. I mean, if I had a list.
I connected with Sophia easily, as well. She was a curious woman who knew what she was supposed to do but it often conflicted with what she desired to do. And she wasn't a coward or some damsel in distress. She matched Grey, step for step, for the entire book. I was impressed by her and she definitely earned her happily ever after.
There was just the right amount of plot here, too. I often think the plots overshadow the rest in historical romances but not so in this case. In fact, it's the plot that continues to bring our couple together and leads to all of the steamy encounters that I came to love. There was so much chemistry between our pair that I worried my Kindle might explode.
In closing...
A fantastic historical romance with missing sisters, naughty gentlemen, and a woman who isn't afraid to bend the rules! Five suns!
Full review on blog: http://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/04/review-tour-study-in-scoundrels-by.html
April 30, 2017
'A Study in Scoundrels' by Christy Carlyle is book Two in the "Romancing the Rules" series. This is the story of Sophia Ruthven and Jasper Grey. I have read the previous book but fell this can easily be a standalone book.
Sophia writes detective stories so she is always looking around for information or help with her stories. But she comes off very prim and proper but Sophia isn't really that way. She was a strong character that knew she wanted to be married and not just a writer. Sophia had been writing to a man she 'met' via the newspaper.
Jasper is the really bad rake who after the lost of his brother seem to step away from his family. Jasper has taken up the acting and parting life style. But when he hears his sister has gone missing he comes forward to try to discretely find her before the town and his father finds out. When confronting a man he thinks his sister might have been duped by he meets up with Sophia who was hiding out in the man's library. Sophia overhears that his sister is missing. Sophia starts to try and help Jasper find his sister. Jasper finds Sophia breathtaking and knows that she is to prime and proper for him but that doesn't stop him from wanting her.
I am such a big fan of Ms. Carlyle that I was over the moon in getting a chance to read this book. I can't wait for more in this series and by Ms. Carlyle!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Sophia writes detective stories so she is always looking around for information or help with her stories. But she comes off very prim and proper but Sophia isn't really that way. She was a strong character that knew she wanted to be married and not just a writer. Sophia had been writing to a man she 'met' via the newspaper.
Jasper is the really bad rake who after the lost of his brother seem to step away from his family. Jasper has taken up the acting and parting life style. But when he hears his sister has gone missing he comes forward to try to discretely find her before the town and his father finds out. When confronting a man he thinks his sister might have been duped by he meets up with Sophia who was hiding out in the man's library. Sophia overhears that his sister is missing. Sophia starts to try and help Jasper find his sister. Jasper finds Sophia breathtaking and knows that she is to prime and proper for him but that doesn't stop him from wanting her.
I am such a big fan of Ms. Carlyle that I was over the moon in getting a chance to read this book. I can't wait for more in this series and by Ms. Carlyle!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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April 12, 2017
A dynamite 5 Stars for Christy Carlyle's A Study in Scoundrel's! This series just keeps getting better! Here we meet Sophia Ruthven who is a pirm and proper young miss, and secretly she loves a good mystery and writes mysteries. However, she has no desire for a real mystery and she definitely has no desire for Jasper Grey, the Earl of Stanhope. However, Jasper's sister Libby has gone missing and Sophia offers her help to Jasper and off they go in search for Libby. Through a series of events and twists and turns, they are drawing closer and closer to finding Libby and also, closer and closer to each other as their passions flare and their hearts begin to melt. Will they find Libby and solve the mystery? Will their budding passions fully ignite and the open their hearts to one another?
Carlyle's writing is mind-blowing, she weaves a tale of such passion and romance, yet with wit and intellect; she's such a creative genius. Her characters are fully developed and well-rounded; one can't help but fall in love with Sophia, she's such a clever girl whose strong, independent nature brings out so much life to this story. This story is just stupendous and such a great historical romance and mystery. What a wonderful combo, so delighted to see more authors creating good historical romantic mysteries! This will make a great addition to your library and one I highly recommend you snatch up now!
Carlyle's writing is mind-blowing, she weaves a tale of such passion and romance, yet with wit and intellect; she's such a creative genius. Her characters are fully developed and well-rounded; one can't help but fall in love with Sophia, she's such a clever girl whose strong, independent nature brings out so much life to this story. This story is just stupendous and such a great historical romance and mystery. What a wonderful combo, so delighted to see more authors creating good historical romantic mysteries! This will make a great addition to your library and one I highly recommend you snatch up now!
April 12, 2017
A 5* read!
Jasper Grey has a mystery to solve. His little sister Liddy has disappeared and Sophia, who writing her first female detective novel, volunteers to help.
A STUDY IN SCOUNDRELS is the 2nd book in Christy Carlysle's Romancing the Rules series and it's a fantastic read. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series, How to Woo a Wallflower. Until then, I look forward to reading the first book in the series, Rules for a Rogue. I read this as a standalone and had no problems.
This story a wonderful tale of opposites attract. Sophia wants marriage with all the extras while Grey would rather catch the pox than take the leap. She's calm, he's impulsive. He's a scoundrel, she's a bluestocking. The way she brings them together in this slow burn romance will keep you turning the page and probably up all night. It will have you chuckling and cheering them on.
I received a copy to review for Celtic Dragon Book Reviews
Jasper Grey has a mystery to solve. His little sister Liddy has disappeared and Sophia, who writing her first female detective novel, volunteers to help.
A STUDY IN SCOUNDRELS is the 2nd book in Christy Carlysle's Romancing the Rules series and it's a fantastic read. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series, How to Woo a Wallflower. Until then, I look forward to reading the first book in the series, Rules for a Rogue. I read this as a standalone and had no problems.
This story a wonderful tale of opposites attract. Sophia wants marriage with all the extras while Grey would rather catch the pox than take the leap. She's calm, he's impulsive. He's a scoundrel, she's a bluestocking. The way she brings them together in this slow burn romance will keep you turning the page and probably up all night. It will have you chuckling and cheering them on.
I received a copy to review for Celtic Dragon Book Reviews
April 12, 2017
A tale of a Aristocratic Rogue Actor who follows no rules but his own and a young Lady who has lived by a set of rules that she grew up with. Add in a runaway sister and a chase that covers remote parts of England and you have an adventurous romp with a wonderful mystery, enough action to have you turning the pages and a compelling, sensual and heartwarming love.
I really enjoyed this book. There are splendid characters from the first book in the series, which I haven't read yet but will be sure to read. Christy is a fine writer who gives us intelligent, witty, damaged characters that grow and transform themselves through their journeys and come out the other end healed and happy.
I received a complimentary copy for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. There are splendid characters from the first book in the series, which I haven't read yet but will be sure to read. Christy is a fine writer who gives us intelligent, witty, damaged characters that grow and transform themselves through their journeys and come out the other end healed and happy.
I received a complimentary copy for an honest review.
April 27, 2017
Our hero is running from his childhood demons. He is hiding himself in dishonor and debauchery until he needs to find someone. As he begins to search he finds that he needs and wants some help from a fetching blonde beauty.
I loved the storyline and the characters. I fully understood them and their decisions. There were allusions to the previous book, but it still read perfectly as a stand-alone. A great choice for any historical romance lover to pick up.
I loved the storyline and the characters. I fully understood them and their decisions. There were allusions to the previous book, but it still read perfectly as a stand-alone. A great choice for any historical romance lover to pick up.
April 1, 2017
Ok folks settle in, this story is a bit madcap.
Sophia, who we saw in RULES FOR A ROGUE trying desperately to get her brother Kit to do the right thing, returns in fine form. Released from the hell of etiquette rules the family lived under, Sophia (who still finds comfort in some of those rules) is working on her first lady detective story while pondering marriage to a man she found in the paper.
In walks Jasper, well sort of, with a mystery he needs solved (where the deuce his sister Liddy disappeared to) and a flirtatious demeanor that makes her question what exactly she wants from marriage and life.
While Liddy is somewhat annoying the adventure Sophia and Jasper go on is a lot of fun. Even better is watching Jasper slowly turn over a new leaf while insisting he wasn't really.
Some of the emotional beats are a little well worn for historical romance lovers - Jasper's reason for his reckless scoundrel life boils down to guilt and family tragedy for instance - but overall this is a delightful treat.
I can't wait for the next book HOW TO WOO A WALLFLOWER, about the youngest of the family Clary. I do like most books with "wallflower" in the title (tho she seems anything but honestly).
Sophia, who we saw in RULES FOR A ROGUE trying desperately to get her brother Kit to do the right thing, returns in fine form. Released from the hell of etiquette rules the family lived under, Sophia (who still finds comfort in some of those rules) is working on her first lady detective story while pondering marriage to a man she found in the paper.
In walks Jasper, well sort of, with a mystery he needs solved (where the deuce his sister Liddy disappeared to) and a flirtatious demeanor that makes her question what exactly she wants from marriage and life.
While Liddy is somewhat annoying the adventure Sophia and Jasper go on is a lot of fun. Even better is watching Jasper slowly turn over a new leaf while insisting he wasn't really.
Some of the emotional beats are a little well worn for historical romance lovers - Jasper's reason for his reckless scoundrel life boils down to guilt and family tragedy for instance - but overall this is a delightful treat.
I can't wait for the next book HOW TO WOO A WALLFLOWER, about the youngest of the family Clary. I do like most books with "wallflower" in the title (tho she seems anything but honestly).
April 12, 2017
This was such a cute book! I loved Sophia and Grey's relationship and the "mystery" that needed to be solved. This was the first book I've ever read by the author but I plan on reading more!
April 14, 2017
I adored this book. We met both Sophia and Grey in the first book Rules for a Rogue. Sophia was Kit's younger sister while Grey was his best friend. From the moment they met in the first book I just knew they'd be fascinating to read about.
By all accounts, Sophia and Grey were polar opposites. And truthfully I think that was the absolute best part of the book. It kept things interesting, but also it allowed the two of them the room to grow and adapt into better versions of themselves as the story goes on. Especially Grey.
Grey was a lovely, fantastic, brooding hero. He carried all of the guilt from his oldest brother's death from early in his life. It colored nearly all his choices in life and molded him into a complete rogue who would run at the first hint of duty or commitment. He continued to grow and mature as the book goes on. Not just from Sophia's presence in his life, but the events the book is centered on with his sister and family. I think it grounded him and while experiencing all of this with Sophia by his side it allowed him to really see and to feel things he ran from and all the possibilities he could explore if he just believed in himself and that he could change.
Sophia, I'll admit from the first book left me unsure how I felt about her. Was she interesting? Undoubtedly. I was fascinated by what motivated her and pushed her to remain so straightlaced and proper. And it was wonderful to delve inside her thoughts and feelings. I loved Sophia. She was a strong female. She was proud and very intelligent. She focused more of the proper and logical way of thinking but as I mentioned above, the presence of Grey in her life helped loosen her up and open her mind to more. More being wants and feelings she had suppressed in the urge to please her very proper father before his death. She was a giver. She took care of her family. She never chased after her own desires or pursuits of pleasure. Which was practically Grey's motto in life; Chasing the pursuit of pleasure.
In the end I don't think either had ever experienced true happiness and peace until they found one another. Grey, more than Sophia. Sophia brought a sense of peace and calm to Grey that he refused to give up. She made him believe a man COULD change. I love, love, loved their journey to their happily ever after. I loved that it wasn't overdramatized, and drawn out. Much like Sophia and Grey themselves, the book kept things honest and to the point. No dancing around it. I enjoyed this book much more than I did the first one about Kit and Ophelia, but both books were fantastic reads.
By all accounts, Sophia and Grey were polar opposites. And truthfully I think that was the absolute best part of the book. It kept things interesting, but also it allowed the two of them the room to grow and adapt into better versions of themselves as the story goes on. Especially Grey.
Grey was a lovely, fantastic, brooding hero. He carried all of the guilt from his oldest brother's death from early in his life. It colored nearly all his choices in life and molded him into a complete rogue who would run at the first hint of duty or commitment. He continued to grow and mature as the book goes on. Not just from Sophia's presence in his life, but the events the book is centered on with his sister and family. I think it grounded him and while experiencing all of this with Sophia by his side it allowed him to really see and to feel things he ran from and all the possibilities he could explore if he just believed in himself and that he could change.
Sophia, I'll admit from the first book left me unsure how I felt about her. Was she interesting? Undoubtedly. I was fascinated by what motivated her and pushed her to remain so straightlaced and proper. And it was wonderful to delve inside her thoughts and feelings. I loved Sophia. She was a strong female. She was proud and very intelligent. She focused more of the proper and logical way of thinking but as I mentioned above, the presence of Grey in her life helped loosen her up and open her mind to more. More being wants and feelings she had suppressed in the urge to please her very proper father before his death. She was a giver. She took care of her family. She never chased after her own desires or pursuits of pleasure. Which was practically Grey's motto in life; Chasing the pursuit of pleasure.
In the end I don't think either had ever experienced true happiness and peace until they found one another. Grey, more than Sophia. Sophia brought a sense of peace and calm to Grey that he refused to give up. She made him believe a man COULD change. I love, love, loved their journey to their happily ever after. I loved that it wasn't overdramatized, and drawn out. Much like Sophia and Grey themselves, the book kept things honest and to the point. No dancing around it. I enjoyed this book much more than I did the first one about Kit and Ophelia, but both books were fantastic reads.
April 17, 2017
Posted on What I'm Reading
Who doesn't love a scoundrel hero? Seriously, they make the best heroes to read. At the beginning you see the potential the hero has, and you start to wonder what's going to make him change. You can only go up, or at least you hope. So, we have Jasper Grey who is a scoundrel of the first order. Technically, he's a the second son who happens to inherit his brother's title due to circumstance. Anyway, still living a dissolute life when his cousin's wife asks for his help to find his sister. Not a good start when you find out your baby sister has been in London. Not good.
We get to know Sophia Ruthven. Not Sophia is the younger sister of Kit who is Grey's best friend. She has a thing for writing mystery novels. So, she likes a good mystery. Plus, she kind of stumbles in to Grey's problem and offers her service to help Grey. By the way she's Miss Prim and Proper. However, I question that on how she decides to approach marriage.
I actually, had a fun time reading A Study in Scoundrels. You have Grey and Sophia they are polar opposites of the spectrum. You have the wild party guy and miss prissy pants, and on top of it all they are looking for his wild sister who isn't out yet. Basically, chasing Liddy all over the countryside. I like that Sophia has a calming effect on Grey, because there has been a couple of times where he would have been a hot head. Overall, A Study in Scoundrels was a pretty good read. It had me chuckling here and there. Yes, I like Sophia and Grey together, they balance one another out. So, if you are need a mad dash chase trying find a runaways sister, and love along the way, A Study in Scoundrels might your cure.
Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss
Who doesn't love a scoundrel hero? Seriously, they make the best heroes to read. At the beginning you see the potential the hero has, and you start to wonder what's going to make him change. You can only go up, or at least you hope. So, we have Jasper Grey who is a scoundrel of the first order. Technically, he's a the second son who happens to inherit his brother's title due to circumstance. Anyway, still living a dissolute life when his cousin's wife asks for his help to find his sister. Not a good start when you find out your baby sister has been in London. Not good.
We get to know Sophia Ruthven. Not Sophia is the younger sister of Kit who is Grey's best friend. She has a thing for writing mystery novels. So, she likes a good mystery. Plus, she kind of stumbles in to Grey's problem and offers her service to help Grey. By the way she's Miss Prim and Proper. However, I question that on how she decides to approach marriage.
I actually, had a fun time reading A Study in Scoundrels. You have Grey and Sophia they are polar opposites of the spectrum. You have the wild party guy and miss prissy pants, and on top of it all they are looking for his wild sister who isn't out yet. Basically, chasing Liddy all over the countryside. I like that Sophia has a calming effect on Grey, because there has been a couple of times where he would have been a hot head. Overall, A Study in Scoundrels was a pretty good read. It had me chuckling here and there. Yes, I like Sophia and Grey together, they balance one another out. So, if you are need a mad dash chase trying find a runaways sister, and love along the way, A Study in Scoundrels might your cure.
Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss
August 24, 2017
The setup: Jasper Grey is an actor, rake, and reluctant lord, who has fully embraced his dissolute lifestyle and more or less turned his back on his duties after a traumatic event in his past. But when his sister goes missing, he's forced into action...and into proximity with Sophia Ruthven, his friend's sister. Sophia is a proper lady...for the most part. She's a writer, after all, and doesn't turn down opportunities for "research." Which is how she ends up in a scoundrel's study and encounters Jasper while he's on the search for his sister. Eventually, Sophia is drawn deeper into the search and deeper into attraction with the rakish actor himself.
I really enjoyed this book. Sophia, the proper lady with some improper curiosities, and Jasper, the rake who turned his back on propriety and duty years ago, play well off each other. Their relationship is very sweet and progresses slowly but satisfyingly. Throw in the race to find Jasper's sister and a potential suitor for Sophia (who couldn't be more unlike Jasper), and you've got a fun, sweet, lovely read.
I really enjoyed this book. Sophia, the proper lady with some improper curiosities, and Jasper, the rake who turned his back on propriety and duty years ago, play well off each other. Their relationship is very sweet and progresses slowly but satisfyingly. Throw in the race to find Jasper's sister and a potential suitor for Sophia (who couldn't be more unlike Jasper), and you've got a fun, sweet, lovely read.
April 25, 2017
3.5 stars
August 9, 2021
I've liked other books by this author, but this one is rather disjointed. The first half in particular is iffy. It's hard to buy that the H and his older brother, both offspring of nobility, were brutally attacked by low-class thieves on their own property--the older brother being killed--all over money. It's even harder to believe that word about this wouldn't have gotten out all over the ton. (Of course, the thieves would have been tracked down by the authorities and put to death, but this is never mentioned either). The h, whose brother is H's best friend, apparently has never heard the story. It's even harder to buy that the H, who is next in line to inherit, has spent his adult life as an actor. Acting as a profession was considered akin to prostitution in those days. In reality, if the H had followed this calling, his father would have disinherited him.
Then we come to the h, whose personality is an uneasy balance between rule-follower and progressive bluestocking. She sneaks into the room of a known lech for research purposes (she's a writer doing research...OK...) and when the H bails her out and basically saves her reputation, she keeps acting like she had a choice other than to sneak out of the residence with him. The book keeps mentioning how she's always been under her father's thumb and always does what's proper, but she's alone with the H constantly, including travelling long distances with him. Never considers having an escort. This alone would have ruined her reputation.
H and h are ostensibly doing detective work to track down H's runaway sister, but basically keep going round and round in circles, separating and bumping into each other. The h gets ahold of the sister's journal, but neither she nor the H bother to read it before they take off on their travels. When they run into Holden, the man H suspects of luring his sister away, they threaten him for a while, but then just let him go after he makes an enigmatic comment. When h arrives at a location where she believes the sister had been staying, she catches a glimpse of someone she believes could be her. The girl is driven off in a carriage and we don't know if she's leaving of her own volition or being forced. The h searches her room and finds nothing but a bent hair clip, which ends up never being a clue. When H arrives on the scene, they waste time bickering over a bawdy book before h even thinks to mention that his sister may have just left.
Too much of the first half is like this. A build up of tension but then H/h waste time. And the stakes keep changing. At first H is beside himself, adamant that he must rescue his sister from Holden. He considers the man a "bounder" and fears for his sister's virginity. Then he's OK with her marrying him as long as he finds her safe. Then suddenly Holden's a "good man" that we're supposed to be rooting for. Most of all it bothered me that no one ever forces the main villain--who tries to rape the h not once but twice--to be accountable. The 17-year old sister is besotted with him, and, it's mentioned, she might have been pregnant with his child, but then her family just lets it go.
The plot does move along a bit more quickly in the second half, but it's really hard to figure out the dynamic between H/h. As they reach H's home, they seem to genuinely care about each other. Then H misunderstands h and storms off, giving her the silent treatment. This would have been a good time for him to show her that he's willing to turn over a new leaf; instead, he blows up at her late one night when she tries to tend to his father, who isn't in his right mind and attacks her. Suddenly they're having sex. But he won't commit, plus h catches wind of a woman H's mother had arranged to marry him, so h makes plans to leave. But his family doesn't really want her to leave, so she manages to do TSTL things like walk into a lake during a rainstorm, even though she can't swim and doesn't know the water's depth, to rescue a couple pages of her manuscript. Of course, H has to save her. They talk, he storms out again, ad nauseum. Their feelings continue to swing back and forth like a pendulum.
If it seems like I completely disliked this book, I didn't. Christy Carlyle is a decent writer, her books are well edited, and her characters are generally likable. But this could have been so much better. There's just too much thrown into the plot that is never sufficiently explored. The H's dark past is not really resolved and his acting career dropped. We don't learn enough about the h's future as a writer or her role in her family's business. There's a subplot involving a man h had considered marrying based off of a newspaper ad, and he seemed rather stalkerish, but he disappears from the story completely.
Language is tame. Sex scenes aren't super explicit, but more than you might expect from the cover. This isn't a "sweet and clean" romance, if that's what you're looking for.
Bottom line: This isn't a bad book, but you'll be able to put it down.
Then we come to the h, whose personality is an uneasy balance between rule-follower and progressive bluestocking. She sneaks into the room of a known lech for research purposes (she's a writer doing research...OK...) and when the H bails her out and basically saves her reputation, she keeps acting like she had a choice other than to sneak out of the residence with him. The book keeps mentioning how she's always been under her father's thumb and always does what's proper, but she's alone with the H constantly, including travelling long distances with him. Never considers having an escort. This alone would have ruined her reputation.
H and h are ostensibly doing detective work to track down H's runaway sister, but basically keep going round and round in circles, separating and bumping into each other. The h gets ahold of the sister's journal, but neither she nor the H bother to read it before they take off on their travels. When they run into Holden, the man H suspects of luring his sister away, they threaten him for a while, but then just let him go after he makes an enigmatic comment. When h arrives at a location where she believes the sister had been staying, she catches a glimpse of someone she believes could be her. The girl is driven off in a carriage and we don't know if she's leaving of her own volition or being forced. The h searches her room and finds nothing but a bent hair clip, which ends up never being a clue. When H arrives on the scene, they waste time bickering over a bawdy book before h even thinks to mention that his sister may have just left.
Too much of the first half is like this. A build up of tension but then H/h waste time. And the stakes keep changing. At first H is beside himself, adamant that he must rescue his sister from Holden. He considers the man a "bounder" and fears for his sister's virginity. Then he's OK with her marrying him as long as he finds her safe. Then suddenly Holden's a "good man" that we're supposed to be rooting for. Most of all it bothered me that no one ever forces the main villain--who tries to rape the h not once but twice--to be accountable. The 17-year old sister is besotted with him, and, it's mentioned, she might have been pregnant with his child, but then her family just lets it go.
The plot does move along a bit more quickly in the second half, but it's really hard to figure out the dynamic between H/h. As they reach H's home, they seem to genuinely care about each other. Then H misunderstands h and storms off, giving her the silent treatment. This would have been a good time for him to show her that he's willing to turn over a new leaf; instead, he blows up at her late one night when she tries to tend to his father, who isn't in his right mind and attacks her. Suddenly they're having sex. But he won't commit, plus h catches wind of a woman H's mother had arranged to marry him, so h makes plans to leave. But his family doesn't really want her to leave, so she manages to do TSTL things like walk into a lake during a rainstorm, even though she can't swim and doesn't know the water's depth, to rescue a couple pages of her manuscript. Of course, H has to save her. They talk, he storms out again, ad nauseum. Their feelings continue to swing back and forth like a pendulum.
If it seems like I completely disliked this book, I didn't. Christy Carlyle is a decent writer, her books are well edited, and her characters are generally likable. But this could have been so much better. There's just too much thrown into the plot that is never sufficiently explored. The H's dark past is not really resolved and his acting career dropped. We don't learn enough about the h's future as a writer or her role in her family's business. There's a subplot involving a man h had considered marrying based off of a newspaper ad, and he seemed rather stalkerish, but he disappears from the story completely.
Language is tame. Sex scenes aren't super explicit, but more than you might expect from the cover. This isn't a "sweet and clean" romance, if that's what you're looking for.
Bottom line: This isn't a bad book, but you'll be able to put it down.
April 18, 2017
How to be a proper lady and a novelist
Sophie writes Mysteries but she's also a proper lady gray needs help finding his sister this was an enjoyable book I like the way they played off each other can't wait to read the next one in the series !
Sophie writes Mysteries but she's also a proper lady gray needs help finding his sister this was an enjoyable book I like the way they played off each other can't wait to read the next one in the series !
November 17, 2017
The first thing that I noticed about this novel was how it feels different than the first in the series, Rules for a Rogue. Even though Jasper Grey certainly falls into that category and Sophia does have a run in with a few scoundrels within the pages, it felt a little less about proving oneself to be something else and more of a romantic adventure. While Rules for a Rogue was about two people learning who they are in their new lives (which is still pertinent here), A Study in Scoundrels takes us on an actual adventure.
Like Kit who proceeded him (our hero from Rules for a Rogue), Jasper is running from the trappings of societal responsibility and is doing so in epic fashion: women, illicit substances, and living the life of an actor. However, very quickly he receives a kick in the pants when his sister goes missing and he has to set out on her trail to rescue her from a potential reputation damaging decision. He has to, at least temporarily, give up his vices to walk nearer the line of respectability (although it is QUITE the struggle). Sophia we got to know a little in the first book of this series and at that time she came across as the rule follower in the family. Her father published the book on female decorum and Sophia epitomizes it, or so she would let people think. Secretly she is working on writing her own female detective story and throws herself in to helping Jasper Grey in solving this real-life mystery. However, this puts her actions at odds with her reputation.
These two were quite entertaining together and were always able to just push the right buttons to keep each other on edge. Being a rogue, Jasper is enchanted with Sophia from the first time they are reacquainted with each other. Sophia is taken with him too, but she is not willing to just succumb to him, there are too many of those rules that she learned to deal with first. Their scenes were always balanced with the right amount of wit to build their characters and relationship as well as continue to push to plot forward.
I very much enjoyed this second novel from Carlyle and would certainly pick up the next that comes out!
Like Kit who proceeded him (our hero from Rules for a Rogue), Jasper is running from the trappings of societal responsibility and is doing so in epic fashion: women, illicit substances, and living the life of an actor. However, very quickly he receives a kick in the pants when his sister goes missing and he has to set out on her trail to rescue her from a potential reputation damaging decision. He has to, at least temporarily, give up his vices to walk nearer the line of respectability (although it is QUITE the struggle). Sophia we got to know a little in the first book of this series and at that time she came across as the rule follower in the family. Her father published the book on female decorum and Sophia epitomizes it, or so she would let people think. Secretly she is working on writing her own female detective story and throws herself in to helping Jasper Grey in solving this real-life mystery. However, this puts her actions at odds with her reputation.
These two were quite entertaining together and were always able to just push the right buttons to keep each other on edge. Being a rogue, Jasper is enchanted with Sophia from the first time they are reacquainted with each other. Sophia is taken with him too, but she is not willing to just succumb to him, there are too many of those rules that she learned to deal with first. Their scenes were always balanced with the right amount of wit to build their characters and relationship as well as continue to push to plot forward.
I very much enjoyed this second novel from Carlyle and would certainly pick up the next that comes out!
May 26, 2017
Haaaah!! gw ude ngetik banyaaakk trs listriknya kedip, mulai lagi deh... mustinya gw baca dari buku 1 sih, biar bisa baca interaksi awal Grey sama Sophia, sampai Kit (hero buku 1, kakaknya Sophia dan temen deketnya Grey) kasih warning ke Grey buat gak liatin Sophia, ngajak ngobrol, atau mikir macem-macem.. yg malah bikin Grey mikir macem-macem liat Sophia yg proper banget ehehehe
Setting ceritanya tu setelah Kit - Ophelia merit, dan memutuskan buat stay di London buat ngurusin bisnis keluarga, Sophia setelah adek bontot nya masuk sekolah asrama gitu, dimintain tolong buat atur rumah tangga Kit (pelayan) dan siapin rumahnya selama Kit - Ophelia pergi bulan madu, dan disinilah petualangan dimulai
ya begitulah.. buku 3 mungkin si Earl menyebalkan itu.. layak dapet second chance apa enggak ya.. nyebelin banget emang ahahahahaha
Setting ceritanya tu setelah Kit - Ophelia merit, dan memutuskan buat stay di London buat ngurusin bisnis keluarga, Sophia setelah adek bontot nya masuk sekolah asrama gitu, dimintain tolong buat atur rumah tangga Kit (pelayan) dan siapin rumahnya selama Kit - Ophelia pergi bulan madu, dan disinilah petualangan dimulai
ya begitulah.. buku 3 mungkin si Earl menyebalkan itu.. layak dapet second chance apa enggak ya.. nyebelin banget emang ahahahahaha
February 2, 2020
Sophia thinks she knows what she wants: a quiet, passion-free marriage to a decent man who shares her ambition for a peaceful household. She's taking the mail order bride approach when she somehow gets roped on a mission to help her brother's friend, Grey, find his lost sister before she's ruined. She's sweet and Grey treats her well overall. It was a decent romance and pleasant, but not mind-blowing, and to be honest it was pretty put-down-able.
April 23, 2017
Read this because I thought it might be interesting to read a book about a woman mystery writer of the Victorian age but it wasn't. Lots of folderol and contrived plot and not enough about the writing of a mystery. In fact, I had o read the summary to remember what the book was about and I only read it a few days ago.
May 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this story by Christy Carlyle. Ms. Carlyle is a new author for me so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read this book. I liked the characters very much and even though this was the second book in the series, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I think watching the characters find out who they could be when they really fell in love with someone else was my favorite part.
Jasper Grey may be the Earl of Stanhope’s heir, but he wants nothing to do with the title. We learn why in the very beginning of the book and the reason made me pause and consider whether or not to keep reading. I am glad that I did. We learn about Jasper’s debauched lifestyle and his current lifestyle and need the background information to understand why he is the way he is. Jasper is a flawed man. He works as an actor when he chooses to work and doesn’t take life seriously. To call him a scoundrel is an understatement.
Sophia Ruthven has inherited her family’s publishing business along with her siblings. She may live her life according to the etiquette book her father wrote, but she wants something more. Sophia is currently trying her hand at writing a detective novel and hopes to find a man to marry. Marriage advertisements may not have been the common way to find a match, but Sophia is willing to give it a shot. Getting pulled into Jasper’s search for his sister gives Sophia some interesting tidbits for her book and makes her think about marriage in a new way.
I loved watching Sophia and Jasper with each other. We can tell that their attraction is strong even though they both want to fight it. Jasper can’t get involved with his friend’s sister and Sophia knows what a rake Jasper is. Despite the reasons why they won’t work, they do.
I enjoyed this book so much that I now need to go back and read Sophia’s brother’s story which is the first in the series. I wonder what will happen in the next book. I have found a new author to keep an eye out for!
Jasper Grey may be the Earl of Stanhope’s heir, but he wants nothing to do with the title. We learn why in the very beginning of the book and the reason made me pause and consider whether or not to keep reading. I am glad that I did. We learn about Jasper’s debauched lifestyle and his current lifestyle and need the background information to understand why he is the way he is. Jasper is a flawed man. He works as an actor when he chooses to work and doesn’t take life seriously. To call him a scoundrel is an understatement.
Sophia Ruthven has inherited her family’s publishing business along with her siblings. She may live her life according to the etiquette book her father wrote, but she wants something more. Sophia is currently trying her hand at writing a detective novel and hopes to find a man to marry. Marriage advertisements may not have been the common way to find a match, but Sophia is willing to give it a shot. Getting pulled into Jasper’s search for his sister gives Sophia some interesting tidbits for her book and makes her think about marriage in a new way.
I loved watching Sophia and Jasper with each other. We can tell that their attraction is strong even though they both want to fight it. Jasper can’t get involved with his friend’s sister and Sophia knows what a rake Jasper is. Despite the reasons why they won’t work, they do.
I enjoyed this book so much that I now need to go back and read Sophia’s brother’s story which is the first in the series. I wonder what will happen in the next book. I have found a new author to keep an eye out for!
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