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The Mysterious Miss M #6
Scandalising the Ton
Lydia Wexin, once the Ton's foremost beauty is now a widow with child. She has been abandoned by her family, and creditors hound her. Adrian has the reputation of a rake, but yearns for something useful to do. Delicate beauty Lydia could pose an intriguing challenge...
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First published July 1, 2008
9 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Diane Gaston
175 books127 followersDiane Gaston’s dream job had always been to write romance novels. One day she decided to pursue that dream and has never looked back; she is now writing full-time. Her books have won Romance’s highest honour—the RITA Award, the National Readers Choice Award and the Golden Heart. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three very ordinary house cats. Diane loves to hear from readers and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 26, 2010
Since I enjoyed my first Diane Gaston (The Vanishing Viscountess) so much, I decided to read the next one too. This was a bad decision, as I disliked almost everything about this book.
The hero Adrian was way too passive and beta for me. He helps out the heroine but after having sex with her (in the opening chapters), he seems to disappear almost entirely for the next 100 pages. He tries to see the heroine but goes away meekly enough when she shoos him away. I'm used to heros who make things happen and he just never does. He's more prominent in the second half of the book but by then I'd given up on him.
The heroine Lydia was a shrew. Yes she had it tough with reporters hounding her, but I got tired of her stubbornly sending the hero away. I wasn't impressed with her plan to pretend her baby was her dead husband's either. And after she and Adrian finally get together in the second half, I cringed every time she lost her temper upon seeing another scurrilous attack in the papers and blamed Adrian. How is it his fault? Then a couple of chapters before the end, she's demanding a separation. And he goes along with it. Ugh.
During the early period when Adrian is mostly invisible, focus is on the reporter who's responsible for the smearing stories. I didn't care for him at all, I thought he was a villain and a waste of pages. I loathe reporters who hound innocent people. Imagine my surprise when he became the hero of the secondary romance. With Lydia's maid whom he was pumping for information. No, no, no! This totally did not work for me. Rather than see him get a HEA, I wanted to kick his rear into the next continent.
There was not enough action in this book, no excitement. Not enough focus on the hero and heroine either. They were apart for too long, then they were unhappy and quarreling when together, then they were apart again. Where were the scenes of them being happy and in love? And with sex occurring so early in the story, there was no sexual tension to speak of.
A big disappointment all around. And a weak 2 stars, even on my Harlequin grading scale.
The hero Adrian was way too passive and beta for me. He helps out the heroine but after having sex with her (in the opening chapters), he seems to disappear almost entirely for the next 100 pages. He tries to see the heroine but goes away meekly enough when she shoos him away. I'm used to heros who make things happen and he just never does. He's more prominent in the second half of the book but by then I'd given up on him.
The heroine Lydia was a shrew. Yes she had it tough with reporters hounding her, but I got tired of her stubbornly sending the hero away. I wasn't impressed with her plan to pretend her baby was her dead husband's either. And after she and Adrian finally get together in the second half, I cringed every time she lost her temper upon seeing another scurrilous attack in the papers and blamed Adrian. How is it his fault? Then a couple of chapters before the end, she's demanding a separation. And he goes along with it. Ugh.
During the early period when Adrian is mostly invisible, focus is on the reporter who's responsible for the smearing stories. I didn't care for him at all, I thought he was a villain and a waste of pages. I loathe reporters who hound innocent people. Imagine my surprise when he became the hero of the secondary romance. With Lydia's maid whom he was pumping for information. No, no, no! This totally did not work for me. Rather than see him get a HEA, I wanted to kick his rear into the next continent.
There was not enough action in this book, no excitement. Not enough focus on the hero and heroine either. They were apart for too long, then they were unhappy and quarreling when together, then they were apart again. Where were the scenes of them being happy and in love? And with sex occurring so early in the story, there was no sexual tension to speak of.
A big disappointment all around. And a weak 2 stars, even on my Harlequin grading scale.
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January 30, 2009I highly recommend Scandalizing the Ton.
Diane Gaston has delivered another winner. The hero is a rake who is really a nice man but his father will not give him any resposibilties so the only thing he has to do with his time is flirt and gamble. The heroine is in the middle of a huge scandal. Her own sister has refused to help her and her parents are traveling and none of her letters pleading for help have been answered. She is being watched by reporters constantly. Her finances are in ruin. She really needs a friend but is a well-known rake the best choice? If the press ever find out that he has been to her house, it would be devasting.
I loved reading this story and the fresh approach Diane took. I loved their characters and how they were developed along with the story. Definitely a page turner!
Diane Gaston has delivered another winner. The hero is a rake who is really a nice man but his father will not give him any resposibilties so the only thing he has to do with his time is flirt and gamble. The heroine is in the middle of a huge scandal. Her own sister has refused to help her and her parents are traveling and none of her letters pleading for help have been answered. She is being watched by reporters constantly. Her finances are in ruin. She really needs a friend but is a well-known rake the best choice? If the press ever find out that he has been to her house, it would be devasting.
I loved reading this story and the fresh approach Diane took. I loved their characters and how they were developed along with the story. Definitely a page turner!
August 9, 2025
This was a serendipitous digital find, as I was searching for another book that has scandal in the title when I found {Scandalizing the ton by Diane Gaston}
The premise is that Lydia, Lady Wexin, is recently widowed — because her husband committed suicide after running away with his accomplice to murder and treason. He also left her destitute and deeply in debt (he used EVERYTHING and even mortgaged the house that was supposed to be hers upon his death).
Adrian, Viscount Cavanley, is bored. He’s tired of being a rake. He winds up meeting and comforting Lydia after rescuing her from reporters camped outside of her house.
But there was CONSEQUENCES to that comforting: she is pregnant (she had miscarried after her husband’s death so she KNOWS this is Adrian’s child. For sure)
What I liked:
Lydia is deeply traumatized by her first husband’s lies, treason and murder — but MORE traumatized by the way other people (including reporters) treated her after he died. She finds it *very* difficult to trust. Sex does not instantly change that.
Adrian fucks up. He doesn’t CHEAT, but he doesn’t tell the flirty widow Lady Denson to fuck off either! From someone who was a rake, I feel like this is realistic.
Lydia is *terrified* of society outings. And she’s right to be. After there are bets about who fathered her child in White’s (she married Adrian 2 days before their son was born), loutish men accost her, assuming she’s easy
Adrian FIXES his mistakes. Lydia realizes what her mistakes were!!
There’s also a secondary romance between her maid and the reporter — who winds up helping Adrian because he wants to make it up to his lady friend for betraying her beloved boss
Anyway, it was a decent entertainment when I needed something mushy.
The premise is that Lydia, Lady Wexin, is recently widowed — because her husband committed suicide after running away with his accomplice to murder and treason. He also left her destitute and deeply in debt (he used EVERYTHING and even mortgaged the house that was supposed to be hers upon his death).
Adrian, Viscount Cavanley, is bored. He’s tired of being a rake. He winds up meeting and comforting Lydia after rescuing her from reporters camped outside of her house.
But there was CONSEQUENCES to that comforting: she is pregnant (she had miscarried after her husband’s death so she KNOWS this is Adrian’s child. For sure)
What I liked:
Lydia is deeply traumatized by her first husband’s lies, treason and murder — but MORE traumatized by the way other people (including reporters) treated her after he died. She finds it *very* difficult to trust. Sex does not instantly change that.
Adrian fucks up. He doesn’t CHEAT, but he doesn’t tell the flirty widow Lady Denson to fuck off either! From someone who was a rake, I feel like this is realistic.
Lydia is *terrified* of society outings. And she’s right to be. After there are bets about who fathered her child in White’s (she married Adrian 2 days before their son was born), loutish men accost her, assuming she’s easy
Adrian FIXES his mistakes. Lydia realizes what her mistakes were!!
There’s also a secondary romance between her maid and the reporter — who winds up helping Adrian because he wants to make it up to his lady friend for betraying her beloved boss
Anyway, it was a decent entertainment when I needed something mushy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2023
Her husband dead and revealed as a murderer, Lady Wexin is in dire straits, penniless and with no support other than three faithful servants. Her misery is compounded by the scandal sheets and her ostracism by the Ton. When a handsome young Viscount shows her kindness, rescuing her from a reporter and helping her back to her house, she reaches out for comfort, only to find herself providing more fodder for the newspapers.
Loved the story and the characters.
Loved the story and the characters.
July 12, 2018
Really enjoyed this book.
December 9, 2020
It is a great story that should help those who need to know how to treat people.
November 3, 2016
I really liked this book and loved the characters. I hadn't read any Diane Gaston before but will read more now. Without her knowing Adrian paid off all of Lady Wexin's husbands debts that he had left when he died and got her back her inheritance. The newspapers are hounding Lady Wexin to write about her since her husband was a murderer and she is basically a recluse living in poverty and trying to hide the poverty. She has a one night stand with Adrian on a chance encounter at night when he saves her from a hounding reporter. He finds himself fascinated with her and then sets her finances aright.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2008
The heroine is a widow who's being blamed for her dead husband's financial shenanigans, and hounded by the press. She's rescued by an earl (or other title) who is looking for something Real to do with his life. She seems to be a good project, especially since she's not at fault for her husband's misdeeds. A lot of the conflict in this story has to do with the early version of paparazzi (yeah, they got started back then)--there's a subplot romance involving a reporter--but there's a LOT of scandal in it too. It's a good read, I thought.
August 23, 2011
Although not listed as part of a series, this is nonetheless linked to the Vanishing Viscountess. Less original perhaps than the Mysterious Miss M, and relatively predictable this is still a good read. I needed a lightweight book for a train journey today, and this was perfect.
The top right hand corner of the cover has been clipped off for some reason.
The top right hand corner of the cover has been clipped off for some reason.
July 10, 2010
i guess seeing as it was harlequin and the fact i was in the mood for a little more romance, this one came up short of that. It was a good story though if you are looking for a quick under 300 page story.
October 2, 2012
Usually enjoy Diane Gaston, but not so much this title. Not every read with an author can be a home run, or even a triple. The heroine ruined this for me. From the first chapter she annoyed me. Adrian was a fine, if somewhat passive hero. I finished it, at any rate~
March 9, 2014
One of my favorite reads in 2013. Historical romances tend to be so similar, but this one was very unique and I truly loved every minute of it. I found myself getting mad and happy, sad and excited, and so many more emotions that I usually just push through.
This book is simply a favorite.
This book is simply a favorite.
April 14, 2015
The woman in this did my head in. The whole way through she is an idiot, she constantly thinking everyone hates her even when on numerous occasions some people prove otherwise. The ending could have been better too.
March 27, 2016
I can't believe I carried on reading this book. It was rubbish, I wasn't expecting a lot but it didn't even meet my very meagre expectations!
And the heroine was incredibly irritating...
And the heroine was incredibly irritating...
October 29, 2013
Not your typical regency romance love story! Good-read!
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January 9, 2010Amazon received
June 10, 2011
Hardly any real discussion between the main couple, but entertaining enough.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews