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Lords of Chance #1
Scandal in Spades
The Marquess of Bromton has just learned that he’s a bastard. Feeling his honor is at stake, he attempts to bestow his estate upon a rightful heir by manipulating a high-stakes card game. But the winner demands more than Bromton bargained for—a marriage…to his spinster sister. Lady Katherine may be the least marriageable lady in all of England, but a child of their union would be a rightful heir…
Scandal has hardened Lady Katherine and narrowed her world to duty and family. There’s nothing to be trusted in the Society she left behind…especially not the imperious marquess with his single-minded pursuit. Or his knee-weakening kisses. Except, the more their connection deepens, the more Bromton surprises Katherine. But the truth about their courtship could destroy everything…
Scandal has hardened Lady Katherine and narrowed her world to duty and family. There’s nothing to be trusted in the Society she left behind…especially not the imperious marquess with his single-minded pursuit. Or his knee-weakening kisses. Except, the more their connection deepens, the more Bromton surprises Katherine. But the truth about their courtship could destroy everything…
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2018
152 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Wendy LaCapra
20 books363 followersWendy writes Historical Romance with a touch of intrigue & suspense. Her debut series, a trilogy about three Ladies who refuse to play by society's rules, was released by Entangled Scandalous in 2015. Her first indie, Her Duke at Daybreak, finaled in Romance Writers of America®'s RITA® contest.
Wendy was born a Jersey Girl, though most of her extended family lives in Maine. Trekking up and down the Northeast coast in the backseat of a car gave her plenty of opportunity not only to fight with her sister, but to read, to listen to her dad tell stories from history, and to dream up stories of her own.
She lives in NYC with her husband. Things she loves besides writing and reading and being an aunt to seven nieces and nephews include travel (50 states and all 7 continents), old things, pine trees, wine and pasta.
If you'd like to join her infrequent, never-shared mailing list for freebies and new-release information, sign up here: http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews
Wendy was born a Jersey Girl, though most of her extended family lives in Maine. Trekking up and down the Northeast coast in the backseat of a car gave her plenty of opportunity not only to fight with her sister, but to read, to listen to her dad tell stories from history, and to dream up stories of her own.
She lives in NYC with her husband. Things she loves besides writing and reading and being an aunt to seven nieces and nephews include travel (50 states and all 7 continents), old things, pine trees, wine and pasta.
If you'd like to join her infrequent, never-shared mailing list for freebies and new-release information, sign up here: http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
May 28, 2018
Until now I've read only one book by this author and it was just OK, so I thought I'll try this one and it was not bad at all.
I like Katherine, and felt really sorry for her because first her brother and then Giles, the hero, trated her like a commodity at the beginning.
Her brother, Percy, does it for love. He wants her to be happy and think that Giles would be perfect for her, so his bet is her hand in marriage.
Giles, on the other hand, accepts her only because of a blood in her veins and because of his sick desire to legitimise his future children, since he discovered he's a bastard child.
I must say that if I was in Katherine's shoes, I'll made him grovel much, much more!
It was interesting to read the idiotic notions flying inside Giles head. They were so outlandish that it was not funny! He's so convinced of his rightness that he doesn't listen to anybody else! I wanted to bash his head and realigne his thought!
He wants his mother's love, but doesn't want to hear her reasons and condemns her without thought. Seeing how he knew his father's meanness he could suppose his mother was mistreated too! but no, he just throw her away!
He also treat Katherine like that: he "knows" what she's thinking, he "know" what she wants...
With him is always I, I, I!!!
Also his friend Rayne... a caveman in disguise! He resents Giles for not marring his siter without asking the same sister if she wanted to marry Giles!
I really don't know what Katherine's sister, Julia, ever saw in him!!??!!
Apart from Julia, who was a young idiot, the female characters here were much, much better and more adult!
Katherine, for all her scandalous past, was a very strong woman who knew what she wanted. Rayne's siter, Claudia, was an intelligent woman who also knew that!
Percy's other friend Farring was the only male character I liked here!
Still, it was an interesting read and I'll probaly read the next one!
I like Katherine, and felt really sorry for her because first her brother and then Giles, the hero, trated her like a commodity at the beginning.
Her brother, Percy, does it for love. He wants her to be happy and think that Giles would be perfect for her, so his bet is her hand in marriage.
Giles, on the other hand, accepts her only because of a blood in her veins and because of his sick desire to legitimise his future children, since he discovered he's a bastard child.
I must say that if I was in Katherine's shoes, I'll made him grovel much, much more!
It was interesting to read the idiotic notions flying inside Giles head. They were so outlandish that it was not funny! He's so convinced of his rightness that he doesn't listen to anybody else! I wanted to bash his head and realigne his thought!
He wants his mother's love, but doesn't want to hear her reasons and condemns her without thought. Seeing how he knew his father's meanness he could suppose his mother was mistreated too! but no, he just throw her away!
He also treat Katherine like that: he "knows" what she's thinking, he "know" what she wants...
With him is always I, I, I!!!
Also his friend Rayne... a caveman in disguise! He resents Giles for not marring his siter without asking the same sister if she wanted to marry Giles!
I really don't know what Katherine's sister, Julia, ever saw in him!!??!!
Apart from Julia, who was a young idiot, the female characters here were much, much better and more adult!
Katherine, for all her scandalous past, was a very strong woman who knew what she wanted. Rayne's siter, Claudia, was an intelligent woman who also knew that!
Percy's other friend Farring was the only male character I liked here!
Still, it was an interesting read and I'll probaly read the next one!
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April 16, 2018
My reviews are honest & they contain spoilers. For more, follow me:
It’s been a while since I pretty much gulped down in about 2 days. Let me tell you that it’s a rare occurrence for me nowadays. But Wendy LaCapra’s newest historical romance, book 1 of Lords of Chance series, Scandal in Spades, managed to do just that. I was hooked from the first page till the last. I enjoyed almost every bit of it—the storyline, the characters, the humorous moments and the banters between the H and the h. Lord help me, but I wanted more when it ended. MORE!
Lords of Chance is Wendy’s 3rd series after the Furies (now complete) and Mythic Dukes (ongoing). I’ve been a fan of hers ever since I read the Furies series. To me, she was a rising star in the arena of Historical Romance. Her absence of a year and a half due to personal reason was greatly felt and I personally kept checking for a new release announcement. So I was ecstatic last year to learn that she’s back to writing—with not one but two series!
Lords of Chance is a Regency set series with 3 peers of the realm, 3 Lords who are old friends, as the center of the storyline. They go by sobriquet taken from the cards—Spades, Clubs and Diamonds. The latest, a new addition to that small group came in the form of Lord Markham; Hearts to complete the circle. He’s also the youngest in the group, often jokingly called as the ‘pup’. But unknowing to him, he was being groomed by our Spades for an ultimate purpose. No, nothing nefarious but that didn’t mean it was any less important to Spades’s own existence. In fact, his life has been upside down for a while now and only Markham could solve his problem. At least, that’s what he thought.
Book 1 is the story of Marquess of Bromton, Giles Langley, who is the aforementioned Spades. Giles, who is known as Bromton in his circle, or simply ‘Brom’ to his closest of buddies like Lord Farring (Clubs) and Lord Rayne (Diamonds), has been taught and trained to be the Marquess since his tender years. His a$$hole of a father had no other purpose in life, and he wanted his heir to be a mini me of himself. There should be nothing important than holding up your own ancestry and keep the Langley line going. And when I say keeping it going, I mean by any means possible.
Giles’s childhood was hardly a fairytale for all that he was born in a family of high status and rich beyond anyone’s measure. In fact, he has been miserable as long as he can remember. His father never showed one ounce of affection, and his mother simply abandoned him to the man. She stopped showing any affection after the order came, when the Marquess emphasized that Giles needed a strong hand to become the future Marquess, and not some wuss who hid behind his mother’s skirt. A young Giles didn’t know why his mother abandoned him to that a$$, so no, he had no love for his father. In fact, he was confused about a lot of what happened to him in his childhood. He isn’t anymore...
Giles didn’t have a good relationship with his mother either as you can only imagine. One thing the late Marquess was successful in was to beat Giles almost into an image of himself (yes, beating was involved as a part of the so-called training). But he wasn’t entirely successful because, though he’d built a stony outer shell around himself, Giles still felt where it matters. And he loved his mother even if he hated her for abandoning him to the nightmare of his young life. Yet, despite everything, one thing Giles can’t help being is Lord Bromton. It was in the very essence of his being. This was what he’d lived for and aspired to be every day of his life until the day his mother announced she’s getting married to some artist of no consequence. As if the moment she was free of the late Marquess, she needed to escape her existence as the Marchioness. She wanted out and she didn’t care whether Giles approved of it or not.
Giles hated it. Hated what his mother did. But more than anything, he hated how distant and formal his mother always sounded, never calling him anything but Bromton. No ‘Giles’ for her, let alone any pet names. He hated the feeling of being abandoned once again, even now when he’s old enough in his early 30s and more than capable of handling a big legacy as the Langley legacy. But what he hated his mother the most was for the fact that she hit him back for his cold denouncement of her remarriage with the word ‘bastard’, confirming once and for all that he has not one ounce of Langley blood in him. Like hell, the irony! The late Marquess wanted an heir and she had to conceive by any means possible.
Since then Giles’s life has been awry. No, from the outside no one can tell. Giles is always controlled, quite... calm. He’s been going to his little group, enjoying with his best buddies, having a drink or two and playing cards. But inside he was being ravaged by the thought of it all. For all the training, and all the crap he’d taken from the old Marquess, he wasn’t even his son! He didn’t have any legitimate claim on any of this, even if he was totally legal since the Marquess accepted him as his own. How can he live peacefully knowing his very existence was a lie? For all the training of becoming a cold a$$hole, Giles wasn’t immune to the hurt and misery it brought him. Now it explains why that’s the case. He had no Langley blood in him after all.
After much deliberation, his own true nature won over when Giles finally decided it’d be the best thing to return the Langley legacy the peeps who have the blood flowing in them, even if they were distant relatives. Because blood matters to a Langley. Giles has been searching, and was finally able to find a distant line of the Langleys in the form of the current Lord Markham, Percy Stanley. Giles did what he had to do, befriend Markham and invite him in his inner circle with Lord Farring and Lord Rayne. He had been subtly grooming and training him to become a person who can shoulder the responsibilities that would be bestowed on him soon. Now all that was left for him was to find a way to hand it over. Without Markham knowing the real reason behind it of course.
A youngster in his early 20s, Markham was just bemused that such high-born Lords were so interested in him. He, for all the town polish he’s been trying to drench himself into, was still a boy who was raised in a country estate and not particularly rich. Percy was orphaned young but he had 2 sisters. The eldest Katherine, and the youngest Julia, who is yet to make her debut. Percy loved both his sisters, even though his love for Katherine made him worry for her happiness. Katherine had a bad start in her early years. She was engaged twice, with none coming to fruition. The first beau died, the second abandoned her for his mistress. Then the only Beau that mattered then, the Brummell, denounced her so badly at a public event that any of Katherine’s existing changes of marriage were destroyed. She now takes care of their country estate in Percy’s absence, planning her life away to spinsterhood. Percy knew that this is not the life Katherine wanted for herself and he wanted to see her happy.
So when in a pre-planned (by Giles) card game, Giles bets his entire legacy and deliberately loses to Percy, a bit of a dilemma arises. For one, no one could believe Giles did that because no one really knew the reasons behind it. Percy, amongst them all, was more than flabbergasted and couldn’t even take this seriously because he thought it was all a joke. I mean, why would a man do that? At a point of negotiation, when Giles seemed nonchalant about the whole matter, Percy was desperate not to have to take up on such a humongous responsibility—I could tell that he was overwhelmed by it all—and a solution comes to him. He throws back his own challenge at Giles; a chance to win Katherine’s hand. No, not by another stack of card game but by meeting her in person, then courting her. If that didn’t work, Percy would do whatever Giles asked him to do.
And for Giles, it wasn’t remotely a solution—why would he wanna bother with a spinster in the making ffs?—until it became THE SOLUTION to all his problems. If all goes as planned he won’t even have to lose anything! All he has to do is to woo Katherine Stanley, marry her and have the most anticipated legit Langley heir. An heir who’d finally have the Langley blood in him... from his mother! What if she’s a spinster? As the saying goes, by any means possible...
I know this kinda make Giles look like a madman, an a$$hole exactly like the old Marquess but trust me, he wasn’t. Yes, his thought process was still regulated as he was trained from childhood. He wanted to make certain of a legit heir, and he was going to have one whatever it took. I won’t say his thought process wasn’t that of an a$$hole but it was what it was. He was sure he’d be able to woo Katherine without much effort. After all what did it take to woo a spinster who should take this as a blessing? He vaguely knew of her past ‘scandals’ and why she retired to the country and never returned to London for years. But, right now, nothing mattered. His own life was a big scandal, or would be one if anyone got a whiff of his mother’s indiscretion. Besides Giles was goodlooking with dark hair and bright blue-grey eyes and totally assured of his own influence. He was certain no one will dare say a cross word to Katherine about her past after she’s the Marchioness.
Here I ought to mention that Giles was engaged to Rayne’s younger sister, Lady Claudia. It was a match made in the cradle or some such thing, meaning done by their parents when they were young. Giles was quite used to with the idea and liked Claudia much. However, after the revelation of his non-Langley status, he broke off with her. It has caused a rift between Rayne and him, though Claudia wasn’t remotely sad about the whole matter. Though he and Rayne still talk and keep each-other’s company, an invisible strain is always there. Rayne’s property lies next to Giles’s and they’ve been buddies for a long time. He’s older than Rayne and thought of him as a younger brother. But now Giles knew that this strain may not be one that can be amended, especially if Rayne knew that Giles has gone off to marry someone else. Rayne took it as a dishonor to Claudia, even if she gave Giles her blessing to marry somewhere else already.
Ever since her parents died, Katherine had taken care of her two younger siblings. It’d seem like she has also been taking care of the modest Stanley estate on her own since her disaster of a betrothal. Um, make that two betrothals. But her first betrothal was with the man she thought was the life of her life; Septimus Chandler, the village vicar’s son, born to do many great things, who was already following his father’s footsteps quite diligently when he died. He was all Katherine thought was kind and pure. In fact, she found Septimus so pure, she’d always ignored the fact that maybe it was her who was more interested in the whole thing than him. That Septimus had a way of pushing her away and seemed to enjoy that too. It was something Katherine would come to realize later after Giles began courting her seriously.
But for now, she was still in that contented illusion that their love was mutual and had illness not taken Septimus, they’d have been happily married and continued on with his life’s work. Hell, Katherine was even training herself to be the biddable wife because that was one of Septimus’s major complaints about her. For now, Katherine thought, her one chance at love has passed. But she still would’ve been happy to be married, be a wife and mother, run an estate like her father’s estate. Unfortunately, after 2 broken betrothals, one that ended in a deep heartbreak, and then her denouncement by Beau Brummell, which was followed by eager peeps trying to gain access to their home by any means to have a look at Markham’s scandalous sister like she was some kinda oddity, Katherine has had enough of that type of ‘excitement’. She was happy to be a spinster, planning away Julia’s coming debut. She tried her best not to think of the future. For now at least.
So when she found out Percy had invited a peer of the realm to their home, nope, Katherine wasn’t happy. She didn’t need that kinda problem in her house once again. Julia didn’t need another scandal which may botch her chances. But when she beheld the extremely handsome, brooding Lord Bromton, her belly fluttered and her legs quivered and Katherine knew it wasn’t good news. She was going down that path again, the path that Septimus didn’t like. The path to attraction and lust. But Katherine couldn’t help it, couldn’t help the physical pull to a person she was attracted to. In fact, she believed very much in physical love and longed to experience with a person she loved. Unfortunately, Septimus wasn’t amused about it. Their one brief foray into that ended in disaster. I, personally thought, Septimus was an a$$ and he treated Katherine quite poorly in the name of the so-called righteous. But a young Katherine didn’t know any different; she didn’t until Giles made it possible for her to realize that she’d have been miserable with Septimus in the long run.
Their counting was the stuff of dreams, at least for me. Their chemistry, the banter, sometimes funny oftimes full of hot innuendoes without sounding crass, was SO GOOD to read. It was one of those things I long to read in every book but don’t often experience. You just know from the moment they were introduced and spend time together in the folly built by Katherine’s mother, that these two belong together, no question asked. Giles wasn’t sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised to find Katherine was very pretty, intelligent and undoubtedly accomplished. He was quite smitten on spot, though he hid it well until later when he couldn’t anymore.
I would’ve loved seeing them having a smooth sailing but that wasn’t gonna happen, no thanks to Rayne the a$$hole. He and Farring went to check up on Giles later in the story. Rayne and Julia shares something and I can’t wait to see how that progresses in their story. BUT, he wasn’t over the fact that Giles didn’t marry Claudia and he had to ruin it for him. SMH. I was SO mad at this a$$ that I can’t even explain. *SMH*
There were quite a few heart-wrenching moments in Scandal in Spades. One, for me, was Giles’s yearning for his mother’s love. Yes he loved Katherine with the same type of intensity, even if it was a different type of affection. But his yearning to make amends with his mother was a palpable thing throughout the story and I almost hated the woman for being so cold to her only offspring... until later that is, when things started unraveling. And when Giles and Katherine were going through their ‘big mis’ my heart broke more for Giles cause he thought he was being abandoned by another person he loved. He blamed himself for, somehow, again mucking up another life. Now that person also hates him as much as his mother did. So for me, the last scene with his mother needed to happen. And I was so glad that finally they had the talk that should’ve happened a long time ago.
Now, this story is mostly perfect but there were a few things that bugged me. The first and foremost was Giles deciding not to learn his real father’s identity. I thought it should’ve been revealed. I was really curious to learn what had happened and who was that man. The second thing was the love scene, the only one. After reading the type of chemistry they shared, I was rather disappointed in that area because it happened when Giles and Katherine were cross with each-other. There was nothing after they made up and the story kinda ended with a rush. I SO WISHED there was at least another chapter to tidy things up before the conclusion. :(
But all in all, Scandal in Spades is a marvelous beginning to what I already think would be a smashing series. I totally LOVE the characters and can’t wait to find out what happens next for who, also hoping that we catch a glimpse of Katherine and Giles in the process. 4.5 stars and recommended for any Historical Romance lover!
ARC received in exchange of an honest review, thanks to Entangled Scandalous (and Holly).
It’s been a while since I pretty much gulped down in about 2 days. Let me tell you that it’s a rare occurrence for me nowadays. But Wendy LaCapra’s newest historical romance, book 1 of Lords of Chance series, Scandal in Spades, managed to do just that. I was hooked from the first page till the last. I enjoyed almost every bit of it—the storyline, the characters, the humorous moments and the banters between the H and the h. Lord help me, but I wanted more when it ended. MORE!
Lords of Chance is Wendy’s 3rd series after the Furies (now complete) and Mythic Dukes (ongoing). I’ve been a fan of hers ever since I read the Furies series. To me, she was a rising star in the arena of Historical Romance. Her absence of a year and a half due to personal reason was greatly felt and I personally kept checking for a new release announcement. So I was ecstatic last year to learn that she’s back to writing—with not one but two series!
Lords of Chance is a Regency set series with 3 peers of the realm, 3 Lords who are old friends, as the center of the storyline. They go by sobriquet taken from the cards—Spades, Clubs and Diamonds. The latest, a new addition to that small group came in the form of Lord Markham; Hearts to complete the circle. He’s also the youngest in the group, often jokingly called as the ‘pup’. But unknowing to him, he was being groomed by our Spades for an ultimate purpose. No, nothing nefarious but that didn’t mean it was any less important to Spades’s own existence. In fact, his life has been upside down for a while now and only Markham could solve his problem. At least, that’s what he thought.
Book 1 is the story of Marquess of Bromton, Giles Langley, who is the aforementioned Spades. Giles, who is known as Bromton in his circle, or simply ‘Brom’ to his closest of buddies like Lord Farring (Clubs) and Lord Rayne (Diamonds), has been taught and trained to be the Marquess since his tender years. His a$$hole of a father had no other purpose in life, and he wanted his heir to be a mini me of himself. There should be nothing important than holding up your own ancestry and keep the Langley line going. And when I say keeping it going, I mean by any means possible.
Giles’s childhood was hardly a fairytale for all that he was born in a family of high status and rich beyond anyone’s measure. In fact, he has been miserable as long as he can remember. His father never showed one ounce of affection, and his mother simply abandoned him to the man. She stopped showing any affection after the order came, when the Marquess emphasized that Giles needed a strong hand to become the future Marquess, and not some wuss who hid behind his mother’s skirt. A young Giles didn’t know why his mother abandoned him to that a$$, so no, he had no love for his father. In fact, he was confused about a lot of what happened to him in his childhood. He isn’t anymore...
Giles didn’t have a good relationship with his mother either as you can only imagine. One thing the late Marquess was successful in was to beat Giles almost into an image of himself (yes, beating was involved as a part of the so-called training). But he wasn’t entirely successful because, though he’d built a stony outer shell around himself, Giles still felt where it matters. And he loved his mother even if he hated her for abandoning him to the nightmare of his young life. Yet, despite everything, one thing Giles can’t help being is Lord Bromton. It was in the very essence of his being. This was what he’d lived for and aspired to be every day of his life until the day his mother announced she’s getting married to some artist of no consequence. As if the moment she was free of the late Marquess, she needed to escape her existence as the Marchioness. She wanted out and she didn’t care whether Giles approved of it or not.
Giles hated it. Hated what his mother did. But more than anything, he hated how distant and formal his mother always sounded, never calling him anything but Bromton. No ‘Giles’ for her, let alone any pet names. He hated the feeling of being abandoned once again, even now when he’s old enough in his early 30s and more than capable of handling a big legacy as the Langley legacy. But what he hated his mother the most was for the fact that she hit him back for his cold denouncement of her remarriage with the word ‘bastard’, confirming once and for all that he has not one ounce of Langley blood in him. Like hell, the irony! The late Marquess wanted an heir and she had to conceive by any means possible.
Since then Giles’s life has been awry. No, from the outside no one can tell. Giles is always controlled, quite... calm. He’s been going to his little group, enjoying with his best buddies, having a drink or two and playing cards. But inside he was being ravaged by the thought of it all. For all the training, and all the crap he’d taken from the old Marquess, he wasn’t even his son! He didn’t have any legitimate claim on any of this, even if he was totally legal since the Marquess accepted him as his own. How can he live peacefully knowing his very existence was a lie? For all the training of becoming a cold a$$hole, Giles wasn’t immune to the hurt and misery it brought him. Now it explains why that’s the case. He had no Langley blood in him after all.
After much deliberation, his own true nature won over when Giles finally decided it’d be the best thing to return the Langley legacy the peeps who have the blood flowing in them, even if they were distant relatives. Because blood matters to a Langley. Giles has been searching, and was finally able to find a distant line of the Langleys in the form of the current Lord Markham, Percy Stanley. Giles did what he had to do, befriend Markham and invite him in his inner circle with Lord Farring and Lord Rayne. He had been subtly grooming and training him to become a person who can shoulder the responsibilities that would be bestowed on him soon. Now all that was left for him was to find a way to hand it over. Without Markham knowing the real reason behind it of course.
A youngster in his early 20s, Markham was just bemused that such high-born Lords were so interested in him. He, for all the town polish he’s been trying to drench himself into, was still a boy who was raised in a country estate and not particularly rich. Percy was orphaned young but he had 2 sisters. The eldest Katherine, and the youngest Julia, who is yet to make her debut. Percy loved both his sisters, even though his love for Katherine made him worry for her happiness. Katherine had a bad start in her early years. She was engaged twice, with none coming to fruition. The first beau died, the second abandoned her for his mistress. Then the only Beau that mattered then, the Brummell, denounced her so badly at a public event that any of Katherine’s existing changes of marriage were destroyed. She now takes care of their country estate in Percy’s absence, planning her life away to spinsterhood. Percy knew that this is not the life Katherine wanted for herself and he wanted to see her happy.
So when in a pre-planned (by Giles) card game, Giles bets his entire legacy and deliberately loses to Percy, a bit of a dilemma arises. For one, no one could believe Giles did that because no one really knew the reasons behind it. Percy, amongst them all, was more than flabbergasted and couldn’t even take this seriously because he thought it was all a joke. I mean, why would a man do that? At a point of negotiation, when Giles seemed nonchalant about the whole matter, Percy was desperate not to have to take up on such a humongous responsibility—I could tell that he was overwhelmed by it all—and a solution comes to him. He throws back his own challenge at Giles; a chance to win Katherine’s hand. No, not by another stack of card game but by meeting her in person, then courting her. If that didn’t work, Percy would do whatever Giles asked him to do.
And for Giles, it wasn’t remotely a solution—why would he wanna bother with a spinster in the making ffs?—until it became THE SOLUTION to all his problems. If all goes as planned he won’t even have to lose anything! All he has to do is to woo Katherine Stanley, marry her and have the most anticipated legit Langley heir. An heir who’d finally have the Langley blood in him... from his mother! What if she’s a spinster? As the saying goes, by any means possible...
I know this kinda make Giles look like a madman, an a$$hole exactly like the old Marquess but trust me, he wasn’t. Yes, his thought process was still regulated as he was trained from childhood. He wanted to make certain of a legit heir, and he was going to have one whatever it took. I won’t say his thought process wasn’t that of an a$$hole but it was what it was. He was sure he’d be able to woo Katherine without much effort. After all what did it take to woo a spinster who should take this as a blessing? He vaguely knew of her past ‘scandals’ and why she retired to the country and never returned to London for years. But, right now, nothing mattered. His own life was a big scandal, or would be one if anyone got a whiff of his mother’s indiscretion. Besides Giles was goodlooking with dark hair and bright blue-grey eyes and totally assured of his own influence. He was certain no one will dare say a cross word to Katherine about her past after she’s the Marchioness.
Here I ought to mention that Giles was engaged to Rayne’s younger sister, Lady Claudia. It was a match made in the cradle or some such thing, meaning done by their parents when they were young. Giles was quite used to with the idea and liked Claudia much. However, after the revelation of his non-Langley status, he broke off with her. It has caused a rift between Rayne and him, though Claudia wasn’t remotely sad about the whole matter. Though he and Rayne still talk and keep each-other’s company, an invisible strain is always there. Rayne’s property lies next to Giles’s and they’ve been buddies for a long time. He’s older than Rayne and thought of him as a younger brother. But now Giles knew that this strain may not be one that can be amended, especially if Rayne knew that Giles has gone off to marry someone else. Rayne took it as a dishonor to Claudia, even if she gave Giles her blessing to marry somewhere else already.
Ever since her parents died, Katherine had taken care of her two younger siblings. It’d seem like she has also been taking care of the modest Stanley estate on her own since her disaster of a betrothal. Um, make that two betrothals. But her first betrothal was with the man she thought was the life of her life; Septimus Chandler, the village vicar’s son, born to do many great things, who was already following his father’s footsteps quite diligently when he died. He was all Katherine thought was kind and pure. In fact, she found Septimus so pure, she’d always ignored the fact that maybe it was her who was more interested in the whole thing than him. That Septimus had a way of pushing her away and seemed to enjoy that too. It was something Katherine would come to realize later after Giles began courting her seriously.
But for now, she was still in that contented illusion that their love was mutual and had illness not taken Septimus, they’d have been happily married and continued on with his life’s work. Hell, Katherine was even training herself to be the biddable wife because that was one of Septimus’s major complaints about her. For now, Katherine thought, her one chance at love has passed. But she still would’ve been happy to be married, be a wife and mother, run an estate like her father’s estate. Unfortunately, after 2 broken betrothals, one that ended in a deep heartbreak, and then her denouncement by Beau Brummell, which was followed by eager peeps trying to gain access to their home by any means to have a look at Markham’s scandalous sister like she was some kinda oddity, Katherine has had enough of that type of ‘excitement’. She was happy to be a spinster, planning away Julia’s coming debut. She tried her best not to think of the future. For now at least.
So when she found out Percy had invited a peer of the realm to their home, nope, Katherine wasn’t happy. She didn’t need that kinda problem in her house once again. Julia didn’t need another scandal which may botch her chances. But when she beheld the extremely handsome, brooding Lord Bromton, her belly fluttered and her legs quivered and Katherine knew it wasn’t good news. She was going down that path again, the path that Septimus didn’t like. The path to attraction and lust. But Katherine couldn’t help it, couldn’t help the physical pull to a person she was attracted to. In fact, she believed very much in physical love and longed to experience with a person she loved. Unfortunately, Septimus wasn’t amused about it. Their one brief foray into that ended in disaster. I, personally thought, Septimus was an a$$ and he treated Katherine quite poorly in the name of the so-called righteous. But a young Katherine didn’t know any different; she didn’t until Giles made it possible for her to realize that she’d have been miserable with Septimus in the long run.
Their counting was the stuff of dreams, at least for me. Their chemistry, the banter, sometimes funny oftimes full of hot innuendoes without sounding crass, was SO GOOD to read. It was one of those things I long to read in every book but don’t often experience. You just know from the moment they were introduced and spend time together in the folly built by Katherine’s mother, that these two belong together, no question asked. Giles wasn’t sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised to find Katherine was very pretty, intelligent and undoubtedly accomplished. He was quite smitten on spot, though he hid it well until later when he couldn’t anymore.
I would’ve loved seeing them having a smooth sailing but that wasn’t gonna happen, no thanks to Rayne the a$$hole. He and Farring went to check up on Giles later in the story. Rayne and Julia shares something and I can’t wait to see how that progresses in their story. BUT, he wasn’t over the fact that Giles didn’t marry Claudia and he had to ruin it for him. SMH. I was SO mad at this a$$ that I can’t even explain. *SMH*
There were quite a few heart-wrenching moments in Scandal in Spades. One, for me, was Giles’s yearning for his mother’s love. Yes he loved Katherine with the same type of intensity, even if it was a different type of affection. But his yearning to make amends with his mother was a palpable thing throughout the story and I almost hated the woman for being so cold to her only offspring... until later that is, when things started unraveling. And when Giles and Katherine were going through their ‘big mis’ my heart broke more for Giles cause he thought he was being abandoned by another person he loved. He blamed himself for, somehow, again mucking up another life. Now that person also hates him as much as his mother did. So for me, the last scene with his mother needed to happen. And I was so glad that finally they had the talk that should’ve happened a long time ago.
Now, this story is mostly perfect but there were a few things that bugged me. The first and foremost was Giles deciding not to learn his real father’s identity. I thought it should’ve been revealed. I was really curious to learn what had happened and who was that man. The second thing was the love scene, the only one. After reading the type of chemistry they shared, I was rather disappointed in that area because it happened when Giles and Katherine were cross with each-other. There was nothing after they made up and the story kinda ended with a rush. I SO WISHED there was at least another chapter to tidy things up before the conclusion. :(
But all in all, Scandal in Spades is a marvelous beginning to what I already think would be a smashing series. I totally LOVE the characters and can’t wait to find out what happens next for who, also hoping that we catch a glimpse of Katherine and Giles in the process. 4.5 stars and recommended for any Historical Romance lover!
ARC received in exchange of an honest review, thanks to Entangled Scandalous (and Holly).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
Within the first two chapters I found my favourite lines from any book so far this year ,
“I am sure it’s nothing to your home”
“Castle”
“Pardon”
“Not a home ,a Jacobean castle. In Northumberland “
An image formed -ramparts rising out of a mist . A shimmering moat with a drawbridge. And in the middle , atop a beautiful stallion, Lord Brompton, in full armour. He would have made a fine Knight.
It had my heart beating , and my mind conjuring elaborate pictures , totally wonderful and brilliant writing.
The Magic continues in a Witty and perfectly orchestrated billiards match in the next chapter, and I’ve not even told you what the stories about yet .
Maybe I don’t need to , maybe now it’s up to you to grab this book and loose yourself in a romance that will stick in your mind even once you’ve finished it .
The best ones always do .
Highly Recommended !!
I received an advanced copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋💋
Within the first two chapters I found my favourite lines from any book so far this year ,
“I am sure it’s nothing to your home”
“Castle”
“Pardon”
“Not a home ,a Jacobean castle. In Northumberland “
An image formed -ramparts rising out of a mist . A shimmering moat with a drawbridge. And in the middle , atop a beautiful stallion, Lord Brompton, in full armour. He would have made a fine Knight.
It had my heart beating , and my mind conjuring elaborate pictures , totally wonderful and brilliant writing.
The Magic continues in a Witty and perfectly orchestrated billiards match in the next chapter, and I’ve not even told you what the stories about yet .
Maybe I don’t need to , maybe now it’s up to you to grab this book and loose yourself in a romance that will stick in your mind even once you’ve finished it .
The best ones always do .
Highly Recommended !!
I received an advanced copy of this book and chose to submit a review
April 6, 2018
Giles Langley, Marquess of Bromton aka Spades has learned that his entire existence is a lie. He has been raised to be the Marquess and embodies the role - he is proper, he is pompous, he is entitled and he cannot abide scandal - so learning that the former Marquess is not his father and his now widowed mother has married an artist is enough to drive him to desperation - he has convinced himself that he must right the wrong done to the marquisate - so upon learning that none of his properties are entailed, he searches his family tree and forms a plan. He befriends Percival Stanley, Earl of Markham aka Hearts, a very distant relative - actually the only other male relative in the Langley line - and convinces him to place a wager on a game of vingt-et-in along with his other friends, Lord Rayne aka Diamonds and Lord Farring aka Clubs. Giles has had each man place secret wagers and "fixes" the game so Markham will win - and win he does, all of Giles unentailed property. Markham confronts Giles and tells him he knows he cheated - he refuses to take the winnings, but proposes an alternative - Giles could marry his sister, Katherine.
Katherine's hopes of a happy life were crushed when Beau Brummell declared her the "Most Unmarriageable Maiden in England" due to two failed betrothals, her first was a love match, but he died before they could marry and the second ran off with his mistress after fighting a duel the day before he was to marry Katherine. She has accepted her lot and cares for her younger sister, Julia and manages Markham's estate, while she might not be happy, she is content. She does worry what her tarnished reputation will mean to Julia when she has her come out next season, but she hopes the talk will have died down and her perfect behavior will ensure that Julia is successful. She is less than thrilled when Markham sends her a letter saying he is bringing home a guest. She an Julia plan how to get rid of them. But Giles is a man on a mission - marrying Katherine and having an heir, will ensure that Langley blood holds the title. He will marry her.
She is attracted to Giles, but she doesn't trust him. Why would a man who prides himself on living a scandal free life, want a tarnished spinster? Slowly, they get to know each other and Katherine begins to fall for Giles, but she is sure that once he learns her secret, he will leave. He pushes for them to marry and she tells him to give them two weeks to get to know each other and if at that time he still wants to marry her, she will say yes. Giles is changing, much to his surprise and he is falling for Katherine. He begins to feel guilty about keeping the truth from her, but convinces himself it is a good thing for her, being married to him will improve her social standing and will help her siblings as well. So when she tells him her secret, at first he is taken aback, but he insists that he still wants to marry her and that her past is the past. Katherine is a little surprised that the oh so proper marquess is willing to overlook her past, but she is happy too and agrees to marry him.
He heads off to London to get a special license and decides to visit his mother. When she learns that his is going to marry and hasn't been honest with Katherine, she warns him that he is making a mistake, but he is still angry with her and says truly awful things to her, so awful she tells him he is no longer welcome to call on her. Ruffled by her words but still set on his plan, he returns to Southford, where he finds Farring and Rayne at the village inn. Farring is happy for him, but Rayne is angry - Giles had a long standing understanding with his sister Clarissa, which he broke off when he learned the truth of his birth, but he never explained why and caused a rift with his friend - He sends them off to the house and tells them that he is just going to freshen up and will meet them later - he then proceeds to get rip roaring drunk with the locals. Katherine was visiting a tenant and slipped into the inn to escape the rain. The innkeeper decides to play matchmaker and sends her up to a room to dry off and then sends up a very drunk Giles. They share a moment of passion and both leave looking forward to their wedding night.
But when tension between Rayne and Giles finally comes to a head and Katherine learns the truth, will there even be a wedding?
This was a fantastic story, well written, flowed great, had probably the most realistic sibling interaction that I have ever read in a book, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, secrets, some groveling and an ending that gave me goosebumps and made me teary eyed. I have never read this author before, but I am going to check out her backlist and will be looking out for her future books!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
Katherine's hopes of a happy life were crushed when Beau Brummell declared her the "Most Unmarriageable Maiden in England" due to two failed betrothals, her first was a love match, but he died before they could marry and the second ran off with his mistress after fighting a duel the day before he was to marry Katherine. She has accepted her lot and cares for her younger sister, Julia and manages Markham's estate, while she might not be happy, she is content. She does worry what her tarnished reputation will mean to Julia when she has her come out next season, but she hopes the talk will have died down and her perfect behavior will ensure that Julia is successful. She is less than thrilled when Markham sends her a letter saying he is bringing home a guest. She an Julia plan how to get rid of them. But Giles is a man on a mission - marrying Katherine and having an heir, will ensure that Langley blood holds the title. He will marry her.
She is attracted to Giles, but she doesn't trust him. Why would a man who prides himself on living a scandal free life, want a tarnished spinster? Slowly, they get to know each other and Katherine begins to fall for Giles, but she is sure that once he learns her secret, he will leave. He pushes for them to marry and she tells him to give them two weeks to get to know each other and if at that time he still wants to marry her, she will say yes. Giles is changing, much to his surprise and he is falling for Katherine. He begins to feel guilty about keeping the truth from her, but convinces himself it is a good thing for her, being married to him will improve her social standing and will help her siblings as well. So when she tells him her secret, at first he is taken aback, but he insists that he still wants to marry her and that her past is the past. Katherine is a little surprised that the oh so proper marquess is willing to overlook her past, but she is happy too and agrees to marry him.
He heads off to London to get a special license and decides to visit his mother. When she learns that his is going to marry and hasn't been honest with Katherine, she warns him that he is making a mistake, but he is still angry with her and says truly awful things to her, so awful she tells him he is no longer welcome to call on her. Ruffled by her words but still set on his plan, he returns to Southford, where he finds Farring and Rayne at the village inn. Farring is happy for him, but Rayne is angry - Giles had a long standing understanding with his sister Clarissa, which he broke off when he learned the truth of his birth, but he never explained why and caused a rift with his friend - He sends them off to the house and tells them that he is just going to freshen up and will meet them later - he then proceeds to get rip roaring drunk with the locals. Katherine was visiting a tenant and slipped into the inn to escape the rain. The innkeeper decides to play matchmaker and sends her up to a room to dry off and then sends up a very drunk Giles. They share a moment of passion and both leave looking forward to their wedding night.
But when tension between Rayne and Giles finally comes to a head and Katherine learns the truth, will there even be a wedding?
This was a fantastic story, well written, flowed great, had probably the most realistic sibling interaction that I have ever read in a book, steamy love scenes, great secondary characters, secrets, some groveling and an ending that gave me goosebumps and made me teary eyed. I have never read this author before, but I am going to check out her backlist and will be looking out for her future books!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
April 14, 2018
Giles, the Marquess of Bromton, has discovered he's actually a bastard. He feels he has no right to carry the title and wants his estate to go to the rightful heir. He's come up with a plan, he will lose everything he owns in a card game to the earl of Markham, the man with the right bloodline, so his debt will be paid. However, the earl has a different plan. He doesn't accept Giles's loss because he cheated. Instead the earl has something to offer, his sister. Lady Katherine is the least marriageable lady in England. If they marry Giles will have a rightful heir and he can keep his position and possessions. Will this plan actually work?
Katherine has retreated from society because of her reputation. Scandal is attached to her name and she's being ridiculed because of it. When her brother brings home a friend Katherine's suspicious. However, when she meets Giles there's a strong attraction. Giles doesn't hide his intentions, but why would the Marquess want to marry Katherine after everything that's been said about her? They have a connection and seem to be a perfect match, but what will happen once the truth about the card game comes to light?
Scandal in Spades is a wonderful romantic story. Katherine has a fiery personality. She's intelligent, outspoken and brave. I loved that she doesn't let anyone mess with her. She doesn't trust Giles and the clever way she tries to discover what he's really like made me smile quite a few times. She doesn't know about Giles's feelings of inadequacy, his struggle with his honor and his constant heartache caused by his childhood. Giles has quite a few secrets, which isn't a good way to start a relationship, but makes fascinating reading. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out how the story would progress and read Scandal in Spades in one sitting.
Wendy LaCapra has a warm and welcoming writing style. Her main characters have plenty of flaws and that was exactly what I liked about them. Their adventures are all entertaining and there are plenty of fabulous fascinating misunderstandings and quarrels. I liked the constant tension between the main characters, they certainly don't give in easily. There's so much that hasn't been said and it was interesting to see what would happen when it would all come to the surface. Scandal in Spades is a terrific charming, sparkling and amusing story.
Katherine has retreated from society because of her reputation. Scandal is attached to her name and she's being ridiculed because of it. When her brother brings home a friend Katherine's suspicious. However, when she meets Giles there's a strong attraction. Giles doesn't hide his intentions, but why would the Marquess want to marry Katherine after everything that's been said about her? They have a connection and seem to be a perfect match, but what will happen once the truth about the card game comes to light?
Scandal in Spades is a wonderful romantic story. Katherine has a fiery personality. She's intelligent, outspoken and brave. I loved that she doesn't let anyone mess with her. She doesn't trust Giles and the clever way she tries to discover what he's really like made me smile quite a few times. She doesn't know about Giles's feelings of inadequacy, his struggle with his honor and his constant heartache caused by his childhood. Giles has quite a few secrets, which isn't a good way to start a relationship, but makes fascinating reading. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough to find out how the story would progress and read Scandal in Spades in one sitting.
Wendy LaCapra has a warm and welcoming writing style. Her main characters have plenty of flaws and that was exactly what I liked about them. Their adventures are all entertaining and there are plenty of fabulous fascinating misunderstandings and quarrels. I liked the constant tension between the main characters, they certainly don't give in easily. There's so much that hasn't been said and it was interesting to see what would happen when it would all come to the surface. Scandal in Spades is a terrific charming, sparkling and amusing story.
April 14, 2018
I really enjoyed this brilliant historical romance with its great characters, plenty of intrigue and well developed story line. It is one of those stories that I really didn’t want anyone or anything to interrupt me reading.
With a hero determined to ensure the rightful heir to the properties he inherited has them, the Marquess of Bromton tries to manipulate things, only to discover that he’s the one being manipulated! Lady Katherine is a delightful heroine, so kind and considerate to everyone - but someone wrongly maligned by the Ton as the least marriageable lady in all of England. She’s wary of the Marquess and his attentions but the attraction between them just keeps on growing! Can they resist each other? What will happen when she discovers his motivations and her brother's scheme?
With family secrets, manipulating siblings, surprises and so much more this is an engaging and highly entertaining read which I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre. I’ll definitely jump at any chance to read any future works by this exceptionally talented author!
I requested and was lucky enough to be given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
With a hero determined to ensure the rightful heir to the properties he inherited has them, the Marquess of Bromton tries to manipulate things, only to discover that he’s the one being manipulated! Lady Katherine is a delightful heroine, so kind and considerate to everyone - but someone wrongly maligned by the Ton as the least marriageable lady in all of England. She’s wary of the Marquess and his attentions but the attraction between them just keeps on growing! Can they resist each other? What will happen when she discovers his motivations and her brother's scheme?
With family secrets, manipulating siblings, surprises and so much more this is an engaging and highly entertaining read which I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre. I’ll definitely jump at any chance to read any future works by this exceptionally talented author!
I requested and was lucky enough to be given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
July 6, 2018
Scandal In Spades by Wendy LaCapra is my much anticipated return of a much loved author. This book contains intrigue, a fast pace and fabulous romance with genuinely fascinating characters. Ms LaCapra just knows how to suck a reader in and not let go. I pray that she is here to stay and more titles are forthcoming. Bravo Wendy LaCapra
April 8, 2018
Spellbinding, Heart pounding, Entrancing. There are so many great thoughts I want to say about this book. It gripped my heart from the beginning and did not let go until the end. LaCapra's well drawn characters came to life to the point I could feel their emotions. This is one of my favorite tropes of the emotionally wounded hero and heroine who become healed by love. Giles, the Marquess of Bromton, finds out he is a bastard after his "fathers" death, but all his life had been harshly groomed for his position. He and his mother are estranged after she tells him the truth and he feels he does not deserve to be the heir. He and three of his friends have named themselves after the cards of Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs and have formed a bond. Giles finds One of his friends Markam aka Hearts is a distant relative, and he devises a scheme to lose his property to him, a rightful heir. But as life does not always go as planned, Giles ends up agreeing to court and hopefully marry Markam's spinster sister Katherine, who is deemed "the most unmarriageable maiden in England". This is where the story begins to have many twist and turns and very strong emotions. As they meet, Katherine feels she is not worthy of anyone and will never find true happiness in a marriage. But fate has a possibly different plan. This story made my romantic heart beat faster as the story unfolded and I became invested in Giles and Katherine. Great secondary characters, that I cannot wait to see in future stories blended with suspense and closely held secrets held me captive to the end. Well done Wendy LaCapra!!
March 30, 2018
" Scandal in Spades was d 1st book by Wendy Lacapra i have read & am happy to say it was not disappointing i liked d book.
This is story is about two people who very alone ,lost but wen dey come together they compliment each other ,r made for each other .
Marquess of Bromton, Giles, is a bastard and Lady Katherine is tagged as the most unmarriageble lady in England . Circumstances lead Giles to marry her where he has his own selfish reasons in d name of honour , pride but eventually realises his follies & falls in love with Katherine who also after the previous disasters in her life is cautious ,insecure to get in a relationship but she also falls in love with d handsome complex Marquess Giles .
The bonding between d siblings , there characters, personality has been brought out very well by d author..the pace of the story is fast not boring, writing stlye is witty , humourous . the story well written & presented ... Giles character is at times irritating , foolish but also very lovable . Katherine comes out as bold, independent , open character though at some times stubborn. The author Wendy has beautifully scripted d story around all this characters & given us a excellent, wonderful book ,
i would definitely recommend it ... it was a superb work of penmanship by Wendy . i would love to read more of her books & definitely want to read a story about Peppy Julia who is the sister of Katherine in dis book...This is my honest review .
This is story is about two people who very alone ,lost but wen dey come together they compliment each other ,r made for each other .
Marquess of Bromton, Giles, is a bastard and Lady Katherine is tagged as the most unmarriageble lady in England . Circumstances lead Giles to marry her where he has his own selfish reasons in d name of honour , pride but eventually realises his follies & falls in love with Katherine who also after the previous disasters in her life is cautious ,insecure to get in a relationship but she also falls in love with d handsome complex Marquess Giles .
The bonding between d siblings , there characters, personality has been brought out very well by d author..the pace of the story is fast not boring, writing stlye is witty , humourous . the story well written & presented ... Giles character is at times irritating , foolish but also very lovable . Katherine comes out as bold, independent , open character though at some times stubborn. The author Wendy has beautifully scripted d story around all this characters & given us a excellent, wonderful book ,
i would definitely recommend it ... it was a superb work of penmanship by Wendy . i would love to read more of her books & definitely want to read a story about Peppy Julia who is the sister of Katherine in dis book...This is my honest review .
April 9, 2018
Scandal in Spades by Wendy LaCapra is the story of Giles Langley, Marquess of Bromton and Lady Katherine Markham. Giles has learned that he is a bastard and is not the real heir to the titles he has. So trying to make things right he enters a card game set on having Markham win what should rightfully be his. But Markham won't take what he has 'won' because he knows that Giles cheated to loose. But Markham does have a deal for him...he wants Giles to marry his sister Katherine. Giles question Markham on why his sister isn't married already and he learns of two failed attempts and how society treated her afterwards...she is called "the most unmarriageable lady in the Kingdom". Giles realizes that any child they would have would be the rightful heir and correct the issue with the title.
Katherine feels she will never marry and has turned from society but has been taking care of the family estate and helping to raise her sister. So when Giles starts to come around she is cautious and not trusting of her feelings..nor his.
But can these two find what they both need in each other?
Really a great read...could not put it down!
Katherine feels she will never marry and has turned from society but has been taking care of the family estate and helping to raise her sister. So when Giles starts to come around she is cautious and not trusting of her feelings..nor his.
But can these two find what they both need in each other?
Really a great read...could not put it down!
July 7, 2020
Giles, The Marquess of Bromton, has just discovered he is illegitimate. Raised to be a rigid nobleman who prized honour and duty, Bromton feels he has no choice but to give the estate to the rightful heir. Manipulating a card game, he sets out to lose to his friend and the rightful heir, Markham. Markham, however, has a bet of his own. His sister has sequestered herself in the country and a scandal and is deemed unmarriageable. The two men agree that Bromton should marry Lady Katherine to fulfil the debt.
Lady Katherine has no interest in meeting another of her brother’s friends. Tired of being the centre of a scandal, she sets out to repel Bromton. The two can’t help but be drawn to one another and agree to marry. Once Katherine discovers the bet, can she forgive Bromton.
While I enjoyed this book, I could have done without Julia and her foolish actions. It was unnecessary to the plot and I feel, detracted from the story. It’s obvious the author intends to use this in a later novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. For more reviews please visit my blog:
http://www.wonderfullyweird88.com/
Lady Katherine has no interest in meeting another of her brother’s friends. Tired of being the centre of a scandal, she sets out to repel Bromton. The two can’t help but be drawn to one another and agree to marry. Once Katherine discovers the bet, can she forgive Bromton.
While I enjoyed this book, I could have done without Julia and her foolish actions. It was unnecessary to the plot and I feel, detracted from the story. It’s obvious the author intends to use this in a later novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. For more reviews please visit my blog:
http://www.wonderfullyweird88.com/
August 10, 2025
**Spoiler-ish!
Sometimes I thought this story was 3 stars, sometimes 4.
Katherine & Giles story was intense & toxic at times. More from Giles's messed up notions of duty & prue bloodlines, drummed into him by his horrible father. Together with a lack of understanding his mother, who was at the mercy of his father control. Was unable to save him from his father's toxic influence, drive Giles to make some crappy, boneheaded choices. Namely wanting to marry Katherine, a result of a messed up bet, in more ways than one.
Katherine's bother Percy, the other half of said messed up bet. Has good intentions. However, Percy still treats his sister as a commodity. Men know best! Obviously common for the time period. Woman didn't have many choices, even more so, if they didn't have a male to look after them. One with honorable intentions was not a requirement!
Katherine's sister Julia is a young ninny who thinks she's grown up, when in reality she's a naive girl looking for trouble. That trouble being Giles's so called friend Rayne, a selfish & petty prig. Julia & Rayne are supposed to have their own romantic story, sure hope their characters improve markedly. From the glimpses into their characters & their actions in this story, them being together would be disastrous.
Katherine, I felt for her, losing one hypocritical pious fiance to death. The other, a selfish bounder, who takes off with his mistress to the continent, after he has proposed. Making Katherine tainted in the eyes of society. Katherine can be stubborn, not my fave heroine quality. Can sometimes turn into girl boss territory, thank goodness other emotions are driving her. Love being one of them, which can make one make some ill advised decisions.
All redeem themselves in the end, this is a romance after all. Except for Raine, Julia just scraps through. Time will tell in regards to their romance story, will it be a disaster or a series of misunderstanding?
Sometimes I thought this story was 3 stars, sometimes 4.
Katherine & Giles story was intense & toxic at times. More from Giles's messed up notions of duty & prue bloodlines, drummed into him by his horrible father. Together with a lack of understanding his mother, who was at the mercy of his father control. Was unable to save him from his father's toxic influence, drive Giles to make some crappy, boneheaded choices. Namely wanting to marry Katherine, a result of a messed up bet, in more ways than one.
Katherine's bother Percy, the other half of said messed up bet. Has good intentions. However, Percy still treats his sister as a commodity. Men know best! Obviously common for the time period. Woman didn't have many choices, even more so, if they didn't have a male to look after them. One with honorable intentions was not a requirement!
Katherine's sister Julia is a young ninny who thinks she's grown up, when in reality she's a naive girl looking for trouble. That trouble being Giles's so called friend Rayne, a selfish & petty prig. Julia & Rayne are supposed to have their own romantic story, sure hope their characters improve markedly. From the glimpses into their characters & their actions in this story, them being together would be disastrous.
Katherine, I felt for her, losing one hypocritical pious fiance to death. The other, a selfish bounder, who takes off with his mistress to the continent, after he has proposed. Making Katherine tainted in the eyes of society. Katherine can be stubborn, not my fave heroine quality. Can sometimes turn into girl boss territory, thank goodness other emotions are driving her. Love being one of them, which can make one make some ill advised decisions.
All redeem themselves in the end, this is a romance after all. Except for Raine, Julia just scraps through. Time will tell in regards to their romance story, will it be a disaster or a series of misunderstanding?
October 13, 2019
Scandal in Spades is book one in the Lords of Chance series by Wendy La Capra. It is necessary to read these books in order, and they are amazing works.Each story is based on a different member of the rakish quartet of friends - Spades, Clubs, Diamonds and Hearts. La Capra infuses steamy romance with wit and humor. I fell in love with the dark, brooding Marquess of Bromton - Spades. “Yes, the marquess’s black hair fell about his face in bold, thick locks, but hair was his only feature that could be deemed au courant - or, rather, au Byron - the look Markham’s other friend had favored. When it came to Lord Bromton’s figure, there wasn’t a hint of fop. His deeply cut cheeks sported stubble Katherine doubted any valet could tame - stubble that accepted full, one could say even say forceful, lips.”
There were moments when I laughed out loud at the verbal volleys exchanged between Katherine ( the heroine) and Bromton. This book is definitely one I will read again and again.
There were moments when I laughed out loud at the verbal volleys exchanged between Katherine ( the heroine) and Bromton. This book is definitely one I will read again and again.
January 8, 2026
Scandal in Spades is a deliciously sharp, emotionally rich Regency romance that sparkles with wit and heart. Wendy LaCapra writes with such confidence and elegance that every scene feels purposeful and alive. The premise alone is irresistible, but what truly stands out is the emotional complexity beneath the scandal. The tension between honor, duty, and desire is beautifully handled, making this story both entertaining and deeply satisfying.
Lady Katherine is a wonderfully layered heroine strong, guarded, and quietly vulnerable while the Marquess of Bromton is compelling in all his flawed determination. Their chemistry unfolds naturally, charged with longing, restraint, and moments that genuinely make your heart flutter. This book delivers romance with intelligence and emotional depth, and it’s easy to see why readers have fallen in love with this story. An absolute delight from start to finish.
Lady Katherine is a wonderfully layered heroine strong, guarded, and quietly vulnerable while the Marquess of Bromton is compelling in all his flawed determination. Their chemistry unfolds naturally, charged with longing, restraint, and moments that genuinely make your heart flutter. This book delivers romance with intelligence and emotional depth, and it’s easy to see why readers have fallen in love with this story. An absolute delight from start to finish.
October 10, 2022
Que grata surpresa.
Um grupo de amigos que se autodenomina pelas cartas do baralho se envolve no já conhecido jogo do amor. É bem clichê, e a autora logo abandona a ideia a favor de títulos e do drama a ser resolvido: Bromton perde (de propósito) toda a sua fortuna em um jogo de cartas e a única forma de reavê-la e cortejando a irmã solteirona de Markham (o ganhador).
Katherine (o prêmio) é uma jovem que foi muito machucada pela sociedade da época - as gafes sociais e a ruína são temas recorrentes e é possível ver o quanto isso afeta sua vida e a de sua família.
O personagens são muito bem caracterizados ao ponto que não há, em nenhum momento, um Deus Ex-Machina. As reações e situações são relativamente críveis e não abusam da paciência do leitor.
Há poucas cenas hot, porém muito bem feitas. Podem ser puladas com facilidade se não forem do agrado, contudo.
É divertido. Recomendo.
Um grupo de amigos que se autodenomina pelas cartas do baralho se envolve no já conhecido jogo do amor. É bem clichê, e a autora logo abandona a ideia a favor de títulos e do drama a ser resolvido: Bromton perde (de propósito) toda a sua fortuna em um jogo de cartas e a única forma de reavê-la e cortejando a irmã solteirona de Markham (o ganhador).
Katherine (o prêmio) é uma jovem que foi muito machucada pela sociedade da época - as gafes sociais e a ruína são temas recorrentes e é possível ver o quanto isso afeta sua vida e a de sua família.
O personagens são muito bem caracterizados ao ponto que não há, em nenhum momento, um Deus Ex-Machina. As reações e situações são relativamente críveis e não abusam da paciência do leitor.
Há poucas cenas hot, porém muito bem feitas. Podem ser puladas com facilidade se não forem do agrado, contudo.
É divertido. Recomendo.
February 1, 2020
Redemption for a Marquess
The Marques of Bromton needs to atone for his past, but his deliberate loss of his estates and wealth in a game of cards isn't the price he must pay. Lady Katherine has a past that has seen her retreat from London. When Brom pursues her can she tell him the truth, but Brom has his own secrets. I absolutely love this book and plan to read all the books in the series. Wonderfully written with a lot of emotional impact. A great read for a free afternoon.
The Marques of Bromton needs to atone for his past, but his deliberate loss of his estates and wealth in a game of cards isn't the price he must pay. Lady Katherine has a past that has seen her retreat from London. When Brom pursues her can she tell him the truth, but Brom has his own secrets. I absolutely love this book and plan to read all the books in the series. Wonderfully written with a lot of emotional impact. A great read for a free afternoon.
July 4, 2022
A good start to the series
Giles and Katherine had a very interesting story line. Giles, finding out he was a bastard, made himself feel he was not worthy of the title. Then, he decides on a very convoluted plan to restored everything to the "proper" line. Katherine, unaware of her brother's additional machinations falls in love and then hears the brutal truth.
Giles and Katherine had a very interesting story line. Giles, finding out he was a bastard, made himself feel he was not worthy of the title. Then, he decides on a very convoluted plan to restored everything to the "proper" line. Katherine, unaware of her brother's additional machinations falls in love and then hears the brutal truth.
February 12, 2019
Good Read
Enjoyed the book very much. Looking forward to the future releases in this series. I hope to read all of them as they are published. Looking for another release in the series hopefully sooner than later.
Enjoyed the book very much. Looking forward to the future releases in this series. I hope to read all of them as they are published. Looking for another release in the series hopefully sooner than later.
April 11, 2018
Great new author!!
Loved this book! It kept me entertained and flipping pages eagerly throughout. I can’t wait to read more books from this author!!
Loved this book! It kept me entertained and flipping pages eagerly throughout. I can’t wait to read more books from this author!!
February 10, 2019
A grit melodramatic
But all in all a romance of deep loving and substance the characters delightful and the pace well kept and a few secrets somewhat unexpected
But all in all a romance of deep loving and substance the characters delightful and the pace well kept and a few secrets somewhat unexpected
July 24, 2020
Not very likeable characters. The plot was convoluted. It was dull and there was no chemistry between Katherine and Bromton.
January 5, 2022
It was sluggish, and didn't flow very well, the story was ok.
September 20, 2024
⛔️(in notes)
November 24, 2024
Uh. Insta love much. One of my least fave plot lines. Also can i say this plotline felt like it was ALLLL over the place
3/5 spizd
3/5 spizd
November 1, 2021
DNF at 50%. I can see stupid non-communication drama coming and I’m just not here for that. I really enjoyed it for the first part. Just can’t take the stress of characters not communicating. For no reason!!
July 28, 2018
In Scandal in Spades, the book is written in typical Regency flair, with poetic flow and meanings hidden between. It is a story of about finding one's true worth and deciding what to do with that realization. And much like the beautifully written Regency stories out there, Wendy LaCapra's is brilliantly written with descriptive prose and innuendos. Be fair warned though - if you're not used to the language used in that era, it can be a bit confusing or daunting to get the gist of it. But no matter because the story itself is a wonderful piece of work.
Scandal in Spades begins with a rather alarming albeit confusing declaration from the main hero, Lord Bromton, the Marquess of Bromton. We are immediately put in a situation where we wonder why he was in it in the first place. But be patient as this revelation is revealed later on. Lord Bromton (Giles) is a noble gentleman and determines that he must right the wrongs of his parents' past deeds. Feeling he has no other way to right his own honor, he must do what no normal man of nobility must do - and that is to give away his entire name and holdings.
The heroine, Lady Katherine falls from grace after not one, but two mishaps in her life. Were she not of noble birth, her slights would most likely have been ignored or simply frowned upon. But as the daughter of an Earl, and sister of the present Earl, one single slight from the "Prinny's" right hand man turns her into a pariah of society. She is thus determined "unsuitable for marriage". While Katherine is still young, she is no longer young in that era. Deciding she'd rather live a life of spinsterhood than go through the humiliation brought upon by a single disgrace, she is shocked and mostly suspicious of the Marquess visiting and staying with her family as a "guest". She suspects and fears that this magnanimous Marquess will find her just as scandalous as the scandals that have surrounded her for the past few years. But she doesn't know that Lord Bromton has secrets of his own and the main reason why he needs to marry Katherine.
I really enjoyed reading Scandal in Spades. It's a fitting title and the cover also fits the two main characters. While I personally felt that Lord Bromton was too typical of the brooding, self-damned hero, he was easy to like and root for as the heartbroken and determined guilt-ridden individual. The two main characters, Lord Bromton and Lady Katherine are immediately drawn to each other and the clashing of tongues and smart dialogue is so fun to read! You can tell that their personalities, while different, has some similarities. They are both headstrong, determined, and kind, although Bromton doesn't mark himself as a kind person since he is courting Katherine under false pretenses.
There are miscommunication and misunderstandings in the story of course which makes it both frustrating and enticing to read. And perhaps that's what makes these type of Regency romance books so interesting - that the hero and/or heroine must triumph over many obstacles in order to get to each other. A bit frustrating in real life of course, but the path to true love is never easy.
I recommend Scandal in Spades if you want a fast-paced, fun read about a self-deprecating hero trying to redeem himself and find out what true love really means. There are several supporting characters in this story and most of them are glossed over, if not fairly important. The purpose of this story is really about Katherine and Giles Bromton and how they both rise from the ashes which they were both burned in.
Thank you, Netgally for the ARC.
Scandal in Spades begins with a rather alarming albeit confusing declaration from the main hero, Lord Bromton, the Marquess of Bromton. We are immediately put in a situation where we wonder why he was in it in the first place. But be patient as this revelation is revealed later on. Lord Bromton (Giles) is a noble gentleman and determines that he must right the wrongs of his parents' past deeds. Feeling he has no other way to right his own honor, he must do what no normal man of nobility must do - and that is to give away his entire name and holdings.
The heroine, Lady Katherine falls from grace after not one, but two mishaps in her life. Were she not of noble birth, her slights would most likely have been ignored or simply frowned upon. But as the daughter of an Earl, and sister of the present Earl, one single slight from the "Prinny's" right hand man turns her into a pariah of society. She is thus determined "unsuitable for marriage". While Katherine is still young, she is no longer young in that era. Deciding she'd rather live a life of spinsterhood than go through the humiliation brought upon by a single disgrace, she is shocked and mostly suspicious of the Marquess visiting and staying with her family as a "guest". She suspects and fears that this magnanimous Marquess will find her just as scandalous as the scandals that have surrounded her for the past few years. But she doesn't know that Lord Bromton has secrets of his own and the main reason why he needs to marry Katherine.
I really enjoyed reading Scandal in Spades. It's a fitting title and the cover also fits the two main characters. While I personally felt that Lord Bromton was too typical of the brooding, self-damned hero, he was easy to like and root for as the heartbroken and determined guilt-ridden individual. The two main characters, Lord Bromton and Lady Katherine are immediately drawn to each other and the clashing of tongues and smart dialogue is so fun to read! You can tell that their personalities, while different, has some similarities. They are both headstrong, determined, and kind, although Bromton doesn't mark himself as a kind person since he is courting Katherine under false pretenses.
There are miscommunication and misunderstandings in the story of course which makes it both frustrating and enticing to read. And perhaps that's what makes these type of Regency romance books so interesting - that the hero and/or heroine must triumph over many obstacles in order to get to each other. A bit frustrating in real life of course, but the path to true love is never easy.
I recommend Scandal in Spades if you want a fast-paced, fun read about a self-deprecating hero trying to redeem himself and find out what true love really means. There are several supporting characters in this story and most of them are glossed over, if not fairly important. The purpose of this story is really about Katherine and Giles Bromton and how they both rise from the ashes which they were both burned in.
Thank you, Netgally for the ARC.
April 15, 2018
When Giles, the Marquess of Bromton, manipulates a high-stakes card game, he never thought the tables would be turned on him when the person he loses to demands he court then marry his spinster sister. However, when Giles meets Lady Katherine he never imagined he was getting the better end of the bargain. Will Giles win Katherine's heart or will the truth about his parentage keep him from ever being happy?
I have been reading more and more Historical romances recently, and I am absolutely loving the ones I've read lately, and Ms. LaCapra delivers a delightful and entertaining read in this first book of her Lords of Chance series where the main and secondary characters were compelling; the dialogue drew me in and had me loving the growing relationship between the hero and heroine, as the hero has an ulterior motive in getting close to Katherine; and the fast-paced plot had me hooked from the beginning because Giles got the better end of the bargain. Not that he realizes that when the bargain is first struck, but the moment the hero and heroine meet there's plenty of chemistry.
As for the main characters. the heroine is independent, fierce and I liked the close relationship she shares with her siblings. I also liked the challenge Katherine provided the hero, as she too is haunted by past demons and doesn't want to drag his good name through the mud. While the hero, he's confident, persistent in his pursuit of the heroine and I liked the close friendship he shares with his three friends where each of them have cool nicknames. Yet, what I liked most of all about the hero is how he faced his demons, so that he didn't lose his chance with the heroine since it was holding him back from achieving happy ever after with Katherine.
Overall, Ms. LaCapra has penned a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was strong; the romance wonderful once the heroine gives in to her desire for the hero; and the ending made me so happy because of what the hero does. What's life without a little scandal? However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up nicely, as marriage and Katherine are good for the hero. I would recommend Scandal in Spades by Wendy LaCapra, if you enjoy Historical romance or books by authors Stacy Reid, Elizabeth Keysian, Maddison Michaels and Darcy Burke.
May 5, 2018
Publisher's Description:
“Lusciously romantic and sparkling with wit, Scandal in Spades will captivate you until the very last page.” –Anna Campbell, bestselling author of the Dashing Widows series
The Marquess of Bromton has just learned that he’s a bastard. Feeling his honor is at stake, he attempts to bestow his estate upon a rightful heir by manipulating a high-stakes card game. But the winner demands more than Bromton bargained for—a marriage…to his spinster sister. Lady Katherine may be the least marriageable lady in all of England, but a child of their union would be a rightful heir…
Scandal has hardened Lady Katherine and narrowed her world to duty and family. There’s nothing to be trusted in the Society she left behind…especially not the imperious marquess with his single-minded pursuit. Or his knee-weakening kisses. Except, the more their connection deepens, the more Bromton surprises Katherine. But the truth about their courtship could destroy everything…
My Thoughts:
This book is a good mixture of humor and unusual circumstances.
It is my first time reading a book by this author though I had previously heard of her.
We have a Maquess that discovers he isn't really the rightful heir so he proceeds to try to divest himself of the estate and title by losing it in a high stakes card game to the next man in line for the title. However that man doesn't seem to want what he has won. He asks instead that Bromton marry his sister who has been dubbed the most unmarriageable lady in England.
Bromton may not desire the title but if he marries Lady Katherine a child of theirs would be a rightful heir.
Katherine thinks herself firmly on the shelf and ruined by scandal so she knows something must be up when her brother brings the Marquess home with him.
Can this unlikely pair of opposites turn an obvious attraction into a lasting love?
I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. The intimacy between this pair is pretty descriptive without being overt.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher to read and review.
This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
“Lusciously romantic and sparkling with wit, Scandal in Spades will captivate you until the very last page.” –Anna Campbell, bestselling author of the Dashing Widows series
The Marquess of Bromton has just learned that he’s a bastard. Feeling his honor is at stake, he attempts to bestow his estate upon a rightful heir by manipulating a high-stakes card game. But the winner demands more than Bromton bargained for—a marriage…to his spinster sister. Lady Katherine may be the least marriageable lady in all of England, but a child of their union would be a rightful heir…
Scandal has hardened Lady Katherine and narrowed her world to duty and family. There’s nothing to be trusted in the Society she left behind…especially not the imperious marquess with his single-minded pursuit. Or his knee-weakening kisses. Except, the more their connection deepens, the more Bromton surprises Katherine. But the truth about their courtship could destroy everything…
My Thoughts:
This book is a good mixture of humor and unusual circumstances.
It is my first time reading a book by this author though I had previously heard of her.
We have a Maquess that discovers he isn't really the rightful heir so he proceeds to try to divest himself of the estate and title by losing it in a high stakes card game to the next man in line for the title. However that man doesn't seem to want what he has won. He asks instead that Bromton marry his sister who has been dubbed the most unmarriageable lady in England.
Bromton may not desire the title but if he marries Lady Katherine a child of theirs would be a rightful heir.
Katherine thinks herself firmly on the shelf and ruined by scandal so she knows something must be up when her brother brings the Marquess home with him.
Can this unlikely pair of opposites turn an obvious attraction into a lasting love?
I gave this book 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. The intimacy between this pair is pretty descriptive without being overt.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher to read and review.
This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
November 2, 2024
I received this ARC from NetGalley and voluntarily chose to write a review.
The premise of this story is unique and intriguing and it was off to a great start, even though it did take me a while to distinguish between the four different friends (Spades, Clubs, Hearts and Diamonds). The chemistry between Katherine and Giles was well-written. I loved their cat and mouse game. But I had trouble believing that the man flirting with Katherine was the same broody one we were introduced to in the first chapter. I was under the assumption that this hero was uptight and a stick in the mud. But he acted the opposite the minute he was introduced to Katherine. And he really did fall for her rather too quickly. The other problem I had with the story was the unnecessary, and quite frankly, irritating, inclusion of Julia's foolish actions. I literally could not care less about her and to be quite honest, Katherine was honestly too easy on her. There was enough tension between Giles and Rayne to drive the plot. The whole thing with Julia was completely unnecessary because Rayne was literally brimming with tension from the very first chapter. He was a bomb just waiting to go off, and he would have gone off even if Giles had not confronted him about Julia. Instead of the time wasted on Rayne and Julia, I wish Katherine had found out about the bet earlier on, mostly because I wanted to read more about Katherine and Giles's marital journey to HEA.
Like I mentioned above, the swift change of personality in Giles took me aback, but overall, I did enjoy him as a hero. I was surprised to find out how sentimental he actually was. Katherine was okay for the most part. I did not appreciate how she constantly kept Septimus's ghost alive in the beginning. I did admire her courage to stand up for herself though. Also, I adored Farring! He was such a delightful supporting character and I hope he gets his own HEA. I'd be very picky about his heroine though, mostly because he deserves the best.
Pairings for next books:
The premise of this story is unique and intriguing and it was off to a great start, even though it did take me a while to distinguish between the four different friends (Spades, Clubs, Hearts and Diamonds). The chemistry between Katherine and Giles was well-written. I loved their cat and mouse game. But I had trouble believing that the man flirting with Katherine was the same broody one we were introduced to in the first chapter. I was under the assumption that this hero was uptight and a stick in the mud. But he acted the opposite the minute he was introduced to Katherine. And he really did fall for her rather too quickly. The other problem I had with the story was the unnecessary, and quite frankly, irritating, inclusion of Julia's foolish actions. I literally could not care less about her and to be quite honest, Katherine was honestly too easy on her. There was enough tension between Giles and Rayne to drive the plot. The whole thing with Julia was completely unnecessary because Rayne was literally brimming with tension from the very first chapter. He was a bomb just waiting to go off, and he would have gone off even if Giles had not confronted him about Julia. Instead of the time wasted on Rayne and Julia, I wish Katherine had found out about the bet earlier on, mostly because I wanted to read more about Katherine and Giles's marital journey to HEA.
Like I mentioned above, the swift change of personality in Giles took me aback, but overall, I did enjoy him as a hero. I was surprised to find out how sentimental he actually was. Katherine was okay for the most part. I did not appreciate how she constantly kept Septimus's ghost alive in the beginning. I did admire her courage to stand up for herself though. Also, I adored Farring! He was such a delightful supporting character and I hope he gets his own HEA. I'd be very picky about his heroine though, mostly because he deserves the best.
Pairings for next books:
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