To Win a Scoundrel’s Heart
The Lords of Whitehall #2
By: Kristen McLean
Releasing July 19, 2016
Young Ink Press
Blurb
When her husband’s death is ruled a suicide, Lady Dumonte suspects foul play. However, finding the truth seems impossible after every investigator in Paris turns up empty-handed. Now she is forced to seek help from Lord Pembridge, a feckless libertine.
Although the pain of loss is a constant reminder of why she must hide her heart, this carefree scoundrel threatens to break past her defenses. He could uncover the truth regarding her husband’s death, but is learning the truth worth risking her heart?
Lord Pembridge has wealth, angelic good looks, and a sunny disposition. None would guess the dark secret blackening his past or the grudge controlling his future. It was the reason he could never have a family of his own, a fate he had accepted until he was forced to play detective for the one woman who could tempt him.
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Nick, Lord Pembridge is deliciously charming, with a laid-back personality and fabulous sense-of-humor which accentuate his strength, intelligence, and bravery. He’s quite the catch, despite his rumored rakish ways. He believes in love, but because of his honor to the Crown, he’s yet to marry.
Celeste, Lady Dumonte is a widow still trying to come to terms with her husband’s death ten years after his suicide. She refuses to believe he chose to leave her, and if his death had been his choice, surely he was under duress. She can’t move past it until she knows the truth. She’s been on a rampage to destroy all rakes and rogues by making them unacceptable in polite society. She has a lot of pull in Paris, and not many deny her what she requests. She refuses to allow Nick to be an exception to that “rule”.
Nick can’t stand Celeste, but he’s on a mission. He’s a spy and he’s been working on a child prostitution ring case for a long time. He will not let anything stand in his way- even the demanding Celeste. When he agrees to investigate her husband’s death, he uncovers news that he knows will be difficult for Celest to accept. When he lets her believe there’s nothing unscrupulous to her husband’s death, she goes undercover herself. Not wanting to see the woman wind up dead, he has no choice but to continue on with the investigation, bringing them face-to-face with some of the most dangerous criminals around.
I absolutely love Nick. He’s loyal and despite what others think of him, he’s definitely a gentleman. He takes pride in everything he does, and he values those in his employ. He’s relaxed, and he treats his servants like family. I loved the interactions between him and his son, Andre (whom he adopted as a single father- be still my heart). Andre is a scene-stealer, and he had me wrapped around his little finger.
I was all into Baern and Juliette’s story. I would’ve loved more of them. Juliette’s calm, friendly, fun-loving demeanor balances out Celeste’s rigidness, and I was happy to see Juliette find her happiness.
Celeste had to grow on me. I didn’t care for her as much as I did Juliette. Although, as I continued to read I understood the motives behind her actions, I had a problem warming up to her. I found her to be extremely judgemental, and it quite often bothered me. I had to strain really hard to find something about her to like, and it was just as difficult for me to understand why Nick fell for her. I wish her character had developed more -become a little softer and a lot less judgemental; but overall, she turned out to be ok.
It was refreshing to see the main villain to be a woman. It’s not that it’s never done, but it is more of the exception than the rule in historicals where women are a lot less dominate than men. Renard is alpha-female and mean as hell. She definitely added something to the story.
I was pleased to revisit Gray and Kat from Behind the Marquess’s Mask (book 1), and although I liked their story better, this book is a welcome addition to the series.
Rating system: Cups of Coffee (the less the better)
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 1 1/2 cups of coffee
Author Info
Kristen has always had a love of novels, with a special place in her heart for historical romance. After reading enough of them to fill a rather impressive library, she decided to write her own. Now she has the pleasure of writing at home, tucked away in a forest with her husband, two children and her cat. Her husband is loving and impressively patient, her two beautiful children strive to embarrass and exhaust her, and her cat hates everyone, but tolerates—well, she tolerates whoever will feed her.
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
“You, m’dear girl,” he murmured, “are old enough to know better than to tempt a scoundrel.”
“I know what I am doing,” she spouted back indignantly. “I am not a child.”
“No,” he agreed easily. “You are certainly not a child.”
“Then I would expect you not to treat me like one.” Her eyes flashed, giving him a teasing glimpse of passion.
Lady Dumonte possessed passion?
Another surprise.
“Of course not.” He frowned in mock seriousness. “How should I treat you? As a lady or a mistress?”
“As a woman,” she ground out. “I am a woman!” Her lips pursed together as she glared up at him.
He smiled broadly; he couldn’t help himself.
“Ah, yes,” he agreed, looking her over as though he had only just noticed. “I believe you are.”
She took in a deep breath, pushing her breasts against the tight fabric of her bodice.
His cock jumped to attention.
“I was wrong about not liking you. I hate you!”
“And yet,” he mused with a knit brow, “you throw yourself at me like all the others. You are either in denial of your overwhelming attraction to me or a glutton for punishment. For my own complacency, I choose the former.”
Céleste shook her head slowly, her eyes narrowed and seething with anger.
“Regardless,” he continued frankly at his own peril, “you had better run along, or you may find your offer accepted, and we both know you never expected that. Your bluff has been called, Lady Dumonte. Go on home like a good girl.”
“I never bluff.”
“Never say never, m’dear,” he murmured with a purposefully wicked smile.