A Loving Scoundrel

I love Johanna Lindsey's Malory Family, and A Loving Scoundrel did not disappoint! A Loving Scoundrel is the story of Jeremy Malory, confirmed bachelor. He hires Danny as his upstairs maid and that is when things start getting interesting.

Danny is an ex -thief who has masqueraded as a boy for 15 years. She wants to change her life from street urchin to a respectable lady. Jeremy wants her as his mistress. I love the interactions that Danny and Jeremy have.

Johanna does it again of growing the relationship and drawing you in to wanting to learn all about Danny and who she really is. I love this series and will be continue reading the next book.

This is my first book by this author and she instantly goes onto my black list. Ridiculous plot and characters. There's next to nothing in keeping with the time period. Too many characters from other books in this series and of course all their (totally unbelievable) stories have to be summed up in one or two sentences all the time.

Then there's the couple, both unsympathetic and over the top. He is in lust (only interested in bedding her, without any thought of her or any consequences) and doesn't seem to have any other character traits. She doesn't seem to have many character traits either, doesn't put much effort in fighting him off even though she wants a 'proper husband and children', some TSTL moments here and there, stomping show more about in pants and wanting to clean everything.

All in all not a believable HEA. And of course at the end everything magically sorts itself out.
I've read books with ridiculous plots and not in keeping with the time period before, but those where usually written with humour. With this one I got the feeling the romance community and its readers were being ridiculed. show less

Danny is an orphan who grew up in London's slums. She's an accomplished thief and has adopted the appearance of a boy to keep from being molested or turned out. (Which, I find unlikely to have succeeded, but this is a fluffy romance, so okay, suspension of disbelief)... anyway Jeremy needs a thief to get some jewelry back and possibly uncover another thief who is a noble and working among the ton, not for personal profit but just because he's a jerk. So, he sets a trap and "hires" (kidnaps and blackmails) the best thief to fall into it. The one who got in and would've gotten out if it hadn't been a trap. That's Danny. Of course, even though NO ONE in the slums noticed Danny was not a boy, Jeremy notices immediately and lusts after her. show more He tries to make her his mistress, but when she resists, he compromises and offers her a household job...though he still intends to seduce her. Danny tries to hold out because she wants a respectable husband and kids, but knows a noble would never marry her, but of course.... etc.
I found this one probably the least believable of all the mildly unbelievable books in this series, but it was still entertaining and I'll still continue to read them. show less

I've read several of the Malory novels and have enjoyed them all. The plot and characters in this one are good, but there is far too much recapping of the other novels, which was simply unnecessary.

Johanna Lindsey is an author I have read for many years and while her books are not amazing they are a good solid rainy afternoon escape. I think the best part of her books are the characters who are multi-faceted and keep me engaged in the book.

Johanna Lindsey's books came to me highly recommended, so I was sorry to find this novel so disappointing. The premise is intriguing but ultimately the shallow 'relationship' between the hero and heroine, the poor characterisation and the clumsy treatment of Regency society overshadowed any pleasure I initially found in the book.

Typical Lindsey historical. Overblown emotional yarn with great characters. Quick read.