All’s Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden

All’s Fair in Love and Scandal by Caroline Linden
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (176 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Bluet

Nothing wagered…

Listen to what your people really need and give it to them cheap cialis for sale – or explain why you can’t provide it at this time. Placing the order online requires very few efforts and extremely short time. generic cialis tonysplate.com Second, it does not increase buy viagra from canada the sexual desire of the user. So, never left untreated sex related problems. lowest prices cialis Douglas Bennet can’t resist a good wager, especially not one that involves a beautiful woman. When a friend proposes an audacious plan to expose the most notorious woman in England, Douglas agrees at once. After all, it would be quite a coup to discover the true identity of Lady Constance, author of the infamous erotic serial scandalizing the ton, 50 Ways to Sin.

Nothing won…

Madeline Wilde is used to being pursued. For years she’s cultivated a reputation for being unattainable and mysterious, and for good reason: her livelihood depends on discretion. When Douglas turns his legendary charm on her, she dismisses him as just another rake. But he surprises her—instead of merely trying to seduce her, he becomes her friend…her confidant…and her lover. But can it really lead to happily-ever-after…or are they about to become the biggest scandal London has ever seen?

I have a love / hate relationship with novellas. On the whole, I generally find that they don’t tend to have characters who are fleshed out enough, or a plot that is satisfying. I’m happy to say that’s not the case here. Douglas Bennet is your typical young gentleman who enjoys, among other things, women and wagers. When an opportunity presents itself that involves both, he can’t resist. At a ball, a friend wagers that he won’t be able to convince the aloof widow, Madeline Wilde, to dance. Sure of his charms, he takes the bet, only to be turned down.

Rather than become discouraged, he finds himself intrigued by the beautiful lady, who doesn’t dance or socialize. The stakes are upped when his friend tells him that he suspects Madeline of being the mysterious author of a scandalous publication called 50 Ways to Sin. There is a substantial reward offered for being able to prove the author’s true identity, so Douglas is even more intrigued. I found Douglas to be charming, if a bit shallow at the beginning. But the more he pursued Madeline and got to know her, the more he developed as a person. I love that he realized and admitted his feelings for Madeline and became protective. Madeline was a bit of a mystery for most of the story. She was widowed, but not a whole lot of information about her first marriage was given. I got the impression that it was not an unhappy union, though not a great love match. I wondered what it was that made her so aloof. Why would she attend all these functions if she didn’t dance or socialize, or if she weren’t looking for a husband or lover? I enjoyed watching her walls crumble as Douglas wore down her resistance.

All’s Fair in Love and Scandal is a must read if you’re following Caroline Linden’s Scandalous series, and the continuing saga of the mysterious 50 Ways to Sin. You can read this as a standalone, but will appreciate it much more if you’ve read the previous novels. I enjoyed watching the passion and love develop in two very different personalities. As far as Madeline’s mysterious behavior, you’ll have to read and discover the answer for yourself. I recommend that you do, as it’s a lovely and enjoyable journey.