The scandal of the season
Must be stopped!
Widowed duchess Sophie will do anything to protect her
son and his inheritance. Even ask roguish Lord Nicholas Pascoe to retrieve her
late husband's diaries before the secrets they contain bring down the
government and the monarchy! Sophie knows she must maintain her distance from
Nicholas…only she can't help but respond to the desire in his eyes. Their
mission is treacherous, but will it prove as dangerous as their unexpected
attraction?
Fantastic story that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Sophie is a young widow who has just finished her year of mourning. She looks
forward to her independence and caring for her young son. She has no intention
of marrying again and giving up her freedom but will devote her time to raising
her son and caring for his estates until he is grown.
Her marriage wasn't happy, with her much older husband
moving his mistress into their home. Even after his death, she was stuck with
the woman until the year's mourning ended. On that day, Sophie discovered the
mistress gone, along with several of the duke's diaries - diaries that would
create an enormous scandal if they were made public. Desperate to prevent that
scandal, she hires "problem fixer" Nicholas Pascoe to retrieve them.
I loved the first meeting between Sophie and Nick. He is
handsome, confident, and not at all deferential. Something about him stirs her
up, and she doesn't like it. Nick is equally drawn to her and just as dismayed.
He doesn't need the distraction while he works to retrieve the diaries. I
enjoyed the sparks that flew between them during that meeting as they wrangled
over the details of the mission. Nick's methods are effective, and I had fun
watching him work his wiles on Mrs. Sweeting. There are some tense moments when
his search faces disaster, but quick-thinking Sophie saves the day.
At the same time, the attraction between Sophie and Nick
continues to grow. Their chemistry is explosive, and they also find themselves
becoming friends. Each finds themselves thinking of the impossibility of their
growing feelings for each other. But Nick is hiding a secret that could change
everything. I loved that he trusted Sophie enough to share his story and that
she cared enough to help him. I loved seeing her play referee at the ball.
But the defeated mistress has one last card to play, and
it is a doozy. The mayhem she causes forces Nick's hand regarding his future
and his need to protect Sophie. I loved how cool and calm he was as he carried
out his plans. I ached for both, as each was reluctant to confess their
feelings, their fear of rejection creating distance between them. I could have
shaken them both when miscommunication caused misunderstandings and harsh
words. The ending was heartwarmingly emotional, with both admitting to their
fears and mistakes and their love.
I loved Sophie's son Freddie. He's realistically
portrayed for his age, with good and bad moments. Sophie doesn't spoil him and
intends to ensure he grows into a responsible man. It was sweet to see how he
took to "Pas!" and that Nick was equally enchanted with him. My
favorite scene with them was the coach ride when Nick and Freddie went to ride
on top to give Sophie a break. The two were adorable together.
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