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Society's Most Scandalous #3
How to Survive a Scandal: A Society's Most Scandalous Regency Historical Romance
A sexy Regency romp
He’s walked right into…
The gossip of the Season!
Captain William Grosvenor’s body may be recovering from battle, but his survivor’s guilt remains. The last thing he should be doing is kissing mysterious maids in carriages. Especially when that “maid” is in fact debutante Lady Annie Fitzroy! Sparring with adventurous Annie is exhilarating, but it’s also dangerous. Because the biggest scandal of the Season is about to explode…and Annie is at the heart of it!
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
Society's Most Scandalous
Book 1: How to Woo a Wallflower by Virginia Heath
Book 2: How to Cheat the Marriage Mart by Millie Adams
Book 3: How to Survive a Scandal by Christine Merrill
He’s walked right into…
The gossip of the Season!
Captain William Grosvenor’s body may be recovering from battle, but his survivor’s guilt remains. The last thing he should be doing is kissing mysterious maids in carriages. Especially when that “maid” is in fact debutante Lady Annie Fitzroy! Sparring with adventurous Annie is exhilarating, but it’s also dangerous. Because the biggest scandal of the Season is about to explode…and Annie is at the heart of it!
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
Society's Most Scandalous
Book 1: How to Woo a Wallflower by Virginia Heath
Book 2: How to Cheat the Marriage Mart by Millie Adams
Book 3: How to Survive a Scandal by Christine Merrill
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2022
12 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Christine Merrill
246 books217 followersChristine Merrill has wanted to be an author for as long as she can remember. But one thing stood in her way: touch typing.
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
Six weeks spent on an IBM Selectric in her Sophomore year of high school proved that she would never be able to produce one readable page of manuscript, much less several hundred.
Twenty years passed, and she found ways to pass the time: marrying her high school sweetheart; having two sons; and taking an assortment of jobs in professional theater costume shops, including a miserable year and a half spent styling wigs for a certain hamburger-selling clown (who shall remain nameless, since I don't want to incur the wrath of a major American corporation) and a couple of weeks working on a TV movie with one of the sexiest men alive (whose name I'm happy to drop: Mark Harmon!).
During that time, someone invented word processing, and a reliable spell checker.
Christine returned to her childhood dream, only to discover that there was more to the whole writing thing than accurate typing. The next years were spent learning to tell stories that people might want to read, and trying to find someone who wanted to buy them. Her chance came when she won the RWA's Golden Heart Competition for unpublished manuscripts. The winning story, soon to be known as THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS, was bought by the contest judges, the delightful editors at Mills & Boon, in Richmond, Surrey.
Christine is now busy writing her fifth book, and is more than slightly jealous that her manuscripts get to visit England, while she stays home in Wisconsin
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 26, 2023
Annie Fitzroy is trying to enjoy the 'season,' when William Grosvenor, her brother's friend, comes home from the war, recovering from his wounds. An incident involving herself and William's cousin Felicity provides a secret to William that Annie would prefer he didn't know. In her attempt to help Felicity, she has potentially compromised herself. Not that William holds this against her, and as their acquaintance turns into a more friendly relationship, Annie wonders at William's stoic nature, which she can't seem to get past.
William Grosvenor can't wait to get back to the war and all the men he feels he's left behind. His wounds, however, are making that impossible. That, along with inheriting his family's estate and money, he now no longer knows who he is, or who he's supposed to be. As his relationship with Annie grows closer, he realizes that she provides him a sense of peace he hasn't felt in a long time.
I feel that though this story was engaging in some aspects, that Annie and William's feelings not being expressed at least behind the scenes, left it a little flat. There was no struggle, or realizations. We could assume they had feelings for each other, but those feelings were not really displayed until the last few pages.
William Grosvenor can't wait to get back to the war and all the men he feels he's left behind. His wounds, however, are making that impossible. That, along with inheriting his family's estate and money, he now no longer knows who he is, or who he's supposed to be. As his relationship with Annie grows closer, he realizes that she provides him a sense of peace he hasn't felt in a long time.
I feel that though this story was engaging in some aspects, that Annie and William's feelings not being expressed at least behind the scenes, left it a little flat. There was no struggle, or realizations. We could assume they had feelings for each other, but those feelings were not really displayed until the last few pages.
April 27, 2025
Very enjoyable! The author is evidently an accomplished practitioner of the Historical romance genre and her instalment to this mini-series from Harlequin Mills & Boon showcases her story-telling skills perfectly. I found the male lead William Grosvenor,slightly irritating to begin with, however I am glad that I persevered as Chirstine Merrill deserves many accolades for this novel, which I daresay her legion of fans will have devoured.
Will definitely be reading more of this author's work on the strength of this one, which I am sure other readers will enjoy.
Will definitely be reading more of this author's work on the strength of this one, which I am sure other readers will enjoy.
September 20, 2023
this book was ok. better in someways then the first two as we had more intraction with the siblings.
the hero and heroine are alright together though it dose take a long time for the hero to work out what to say to the heroine. not to bad for an ending
the hero and heroine are alright together though it dose take a long time for the hero to work out what to say to the heroine. not to bad for an ending
Read
October 1, 2022Historical Fiction, Sagas, Regency Romance
Miniseries
Society's Most Scandalous (Book #3)
Miniseries
Society's Most Scandalous (Book #3)
November 18, 2022
Nice coverage of hero's PTSD issues. Loved this book's main characters and all the clever plot twists that left me hanging. No real boring tropes. HIGHLY recommend.
December 21, 2022
An entertaining end to the series
January 15, 2024
Very good book but the h got on my nerves, I wanted to slap her a few times.
Read
February 21, 2024These abrupt ass endings! I want an epilogue damnit!
November 29, 2022
This was my first harlequin historical and I really enjoyed it. It was cute but scandalous and such a quick read.
October 20, 2023
Annie is a high-spirited young woman trying to enjoy the season and find a suitable husband. None of the men she has met appeal to her. We first see her participating in a carriage race against a young man who disparaged "women drivers." After the race, she is invited to a gathering that common sense tells her is a scandal waiting to happen, and she plans to avoid it. Unfortunately, another young woman is determined to attend. Worried about Felicity's safety, Annie disguises herself as a maid to rescue Felicity. While there, William, Felicty's cousin, sees Felicity there and helps Annie extricate her from danger. William misunderstands Annie's role, and Annie adds to the problem with her deception. An explosive kiss complicates matters.
William is back in England, recovering from wounds from the war in Spain. He has also recently inherited his brother's home and fortune. William has no interest in remaining in England and taking up those duties. He is itching to return to the war and relieve his guilt over his men's deaths. Unfortunately, he is not healing as he should, which frustrates him and leaves him feeling he doesn't know who he is.
William's next meeting with Annie does not go well. She is a much better playactor, as she gives no indication they have met before. Meanwhile, William is so flummoxed that he fumbles his words and all but insults her. Annie hasn't forgotten the power of that kiss and vows to avoid William as much as possible. But they keep encountering each other, and every time, the sparks fly.
I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as they got to know each other. Annie comes to respect William and his devotion to his men. She aches for the pain she senses in him and wants to help him. Once William gets past his mistaken ideas of what Annie is like, he realizes that being around her lightens his guilt. It is clear that William is falling for her, but he doesn't see it. He has been stalwart in his decision not to marry, which blinds him to his growing feelings. Annie realizes she loves Will but that it is a hopeless case. Matters are complicated by the sparks of attraction that neither can deny.
When Annie finds herself in the center of a scandal, William is one of the few to stand by her. I loved his kindness and compassion and his desire to protect her. He goes a little overboard, adding to the scandal. Watching Will and Annie go back and forth over his desire to do the right thing and her refusal to marry without love was fascinating. I loved the scene where Will finally saw the light on his feelings. It didn't happen the way I expected, and I laughed out loud. Will's attempt to explain his feelings was sweet and awkward, and it was fun to see Annie's reaction.
William is back in England, recovering from wounds from the war in Spain. He has also recently inherited his brother's home and fortune. William has no interest in remaining in England and taking up those duties. He is itching to return to the war and relieve his guilt over his men's deaths. Unfortunately, he is not healing as he should, which frustrates him and leaves him feeling he doesn't know who he is.
William's next meeting with Annie does not go well. She is a much better playactor, as she gives no indication they have met before. Meanwhile, William is so flummoxed that he fumbles his words and all but insults her. Annie hasn't forgotten the power of that kiss and vows to avoid William as much as possible. But they keep encountering each other, and every time, the sparks fly.
I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as they got to know each other. Annie comes to respect William and his devotion to his men. She aches for the pain she senses in him and wants to help him. Once William gets past his mistaken ideas of what Annie is like, he realizes that being around her lightens his guilt. It is clear that William is falling for her, but he doesn't see it. He has been stalwart in his decision not to marry, which blinds him to his growing feelings. Annie realizes she loves Will but that it is a hopeless case. Matters are complicated by the sparks of attraction that neither can deny.
When Annie finds herself in the center of a scandal, William is one of the few to stand by her. I loved his kindness and compassion and his desire to protect her. He goes a little overboard, adding to the scandal. Watching Will and Annie go back and forth over his desire to do the right thing and her refusal to marry without love was fascinating. I loved the scene where Will finally saw the light on his feelings. It didn't happen the way I expected, and I laughed out loud. Will's attempt to explain his feelings was sweet and awkward, and it was fun to see Annie's reaction.
July 11, 2024
bold, fierce-hearted Anne has never hesitated and never one to back down from a challenge. her refusal to play the part of Meek Miss gets her in a bit of trouble. This book featured some very sweet scenes of emotional healing for the hero (Will), struggling with survivor's guilt and PTSD (veteran of Peninsular wars). And his caring and wanting to protect her after a hidden truth about her birth circumstances becomes the gossip of all the ton.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews