Sandy M’s review of My Lord Scandal (Notorious Bachelors, Book 1) by Emma Wildes
Historical Romance published by Signet 7 Sep 10

I became an instant fan of Emma Wildes when I read her Lessons from a Scarlet Lady, loving the freshness of the story. This book isn’t far behind that one, giving us lively and interesting characters, a romance that is a treat for the heart, and a mystery with a twist to cap things off.

I really like the beginning of this book. Alexander has brought along his good friend Michael to break and enter into the home of a nobleman to retrieve something that belongs to Alex’s family, at least per his grandmother. The Hathaway family is out for the evening, so he and Michael should be in and out in no time. But just as he’s nearly through with his searching, Alex hears someone enter the home. The men come up with a plan to finish their nefarious doings, but it is Alex who is nearly caught.

Amelia Hathaway has never enjoyed herself at parties, dancing is not her thing due to her breathing malady. So she left early this night, glad to be home. Undressing for bed, she slips out onto her balcony for fresh air, coming face to face with a handsome stranger who is worried about her when she becomes dizzy. Instead of screaming the house down, she banters with the man and he steals a kiss before he fades into the night.

Just from that one light moment between Alex and Amelia, you can’t help but like them. Out in society they dance around one another, due mostly to the fact that Alex is a notorious rake with a reputation that makes mothers with daughters faint. But he’s so exciting to Amelia, especially compared to the gentlemen her father is contemplating marrying her to.

They also have romantic moments alone that are done just beautifully by Ms. Wildes. Their stolen time in the rain, sheltered by a gazebo when their desire peaks is one of my favorite of the book. Through all of their encounters, Amelia learns that Alex’s reputation is not as dark and unseemly as everyone seems to think. He’s courteous, intelligent, and full of seduction and she succumbs to him every time he touches her. Alex knows he will marry one day, but that’s too far into the future to even think about. Until Amelia.

In between all of this, we find out how their families are related by tragedy that happened a generation before, animosity still present today between their fathers. Then out of the blue, both Alex and Amelia receive love letters written by their long-ago relatives who were involved in scandalous behavior that could end only badly. They work together to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, all the while hoping their families will let bygones be bygones because they are determined to marry, despite what any member of either family thinks.

Alex and Amelia are a delightful couple during their “courting” stage and even more so once they are married. They both have so much hidden beneath their outer exteriors and it’s terrific to watch them grow into even better people because of each other.

Another hit for Ms. Wildes!

Grade: B+

Summary:

Alexander St. James may be a thief of hearts, but he is no burglar. Nevertheless, he must recover and item belonging to his family to avoid a scandal, and so he has stolen into the home of Lord Hathaway, only to come upon the beguiling and chaste Lady Amelia in her bedroom, wearing little but a look of surprise. Alexander leaves Amelia breathless-but is it from fear or excitement? Captivated by her beauty and charmed by her intellect, he ignores the scandalous whispers as he sets out to seduce the woman of his dreams…

Read an excerpt. (click link for .pdf download)

Other books in this series: