A Matter of Scandal

At last we get to read the third and final in Enoch's With This Ring Series! This is the story of Emma Grenville, the young headmistress of a girl's finishing school who tangles with Greydon Brakenridge, the Duke of Wycliffe who can't resist her condescending ways towards him. We've gotten to know Emma slightly in the previous books and her happily ever ending was just delicious! While visiting a relative in the country who is having money problems, Greydon helps him by having him raise his tenant's rents. The finishing school happens to be one of the aforesaid tenants. Well, you can imagine what happens.

Emma is furious with Greydon when she finds out he's behind her rent increase. The two experience that well known romance novel show more syndrome of "instant dislike which turns into instant lust." Yet, it works! In order to avoid the increase, Emma wagers the increase that he cannot teach her girls the ways of London and the necessary etiquette and ballroom behavior to help catch a husband. Their wager has unforeseen consequences. Throwing them together more and more, Greydon pursues her against his own good sense, which leads to all sorts of clandestine activities that makes them the subject of a major scandal that puts Emma's job at risk, as well as the closing of her school. How can this confirmed bachelor clear her name and the girls that attend her school? I liked this bit of fluff. Emma is a good match for Greydon who needs some excitement in his life and interaction with a headmistress of girl's finishing school is just the thing! She can hold her own to anything he throws at her. A fun romp, plus I love the old world romance cover too! A fun regency romance by one of my favorite "new to me" authors! show less

That was one arrogant Duke! I loved him though. Emma handled herself and him well. Lizzy was great.. wonder if we'll meet her again in her own story? So glad I came back to read this story- I'd read about Grey and Emma in another book and their story sounded interesting. I wasn't disappointed!

I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At Heart website.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Emma Grenville is a spinster and the headmistress of a reputable girls’ school in Hampshire.

Greydon Brakenridge, the Duke of Wycliffe, finds himself in the middle of a London Season, visiting his uncle’s estate in Hampshire and offering a solution to his money woos.

To that end, Emma is soon drawn into a wager with this arrogant Duke, and she is determined to teach him a lesson and prove to him and all his friends who invaded her peaceful corner of the world, that ‘not all men are created mentally equal’!

The education of both hero and heroine is not to be missed and the sparks that fly between the two, once ignited, couldn’t be stopped. show more Their sensual scenes are passionate and heartwarming, while their back and forth will have you laughing out loud.

There are so many, many things to recommend this book that I honestly don’t even know where to begin! The writing is superb; a fast paced plot filled with dialogue that is quick witted; entertaining; and characters with depth, are just a few to begin with. I enjoyed A MATTER OF SCANDAL so much! The author’s secondary characters were all drawn with perfect strokes that you couldn’t help but like everyone, especially Tristan.

This is a third book in a With This Ring trilogy (don’t despair, it can be read on its own), and the previous installments are: REFORMING A RAKE and MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT, so, needless to tell you, I will be tracking those down and adding them to my TBR.

Highly recommended, and a keeper!

Melanie show less

One of Enoch's more enchanting novels -- particularly the scenes at the finishing school. Definitely recommended to romance readers. (I always recommend Enoch to those who enjoy Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas).

LOL this cover.

I swear I read this book before or one extremely similar.

La encantadora Emma Grenville es la directora de una reputada academia para señoritas de alta alcurnia. Pero todo se tambalea cuando su casero, Greydon Brakenridge, duque de Wycliffe, se presenta con la intención de incrementarle considerablemente el alquiler.
Es atractivo, inteligente y pretencioso, y está empecinado en cerrar la academia, convencido de que esa casamentera a sueldo sólo pretende instruir a jovencitas en el arte de cazar a un marido rico.
Grey, impresionado por la fuerte personalidad de Emma, le propone pagar la renta de la academia ad infinitum si ella demuestra que es capaz de getionar su hacienda. Como contrapartida, y dispuesta a mostrar la inteligencia femenina, Emma le reta a que sea capaz de instruir a un grupo show more selecto de sus alunas. Pero la apuesta adoptará un curso peligroso cuando el duque, totalmente obnubilado por la fuerza y el atractivo de Emma provoca una historia de escándalo. show less