Eleanor de Lacy thinks she is helping out her beloved cousin Madeline when she agrees to temporarily switch places with her so Madeline can go fix one of her father's problems. But Eleanor has to go in Madeline's place to meet Madeline's new fiancee, who just won Madeline from her father in a game of cards!Remington Knight has a score to settle with some old foes and starts by winning the duchess of Magnus in a game of cards. He plans to marry her and find out who really destroyed his family. He doesn't plan on the duchess being nothing like her description.She is beautiful, more beautiful than he could have guessed but there are differences he's noticing that are pleasing to him. She's not afraid of horses or riding. She's very intelligent and kind. And most of all she's a tempting innocent bound to make him lose all train of thought and focus only on her happiness. But what happens when Eleanor and Madeline's plot is exposed?I loved Eleanor and Remington's story! Remington was nothing like I thought he was going to be. I thought he would be harsh and cruel to Eleanor when she was playing the role of Madeline but all he seemed to want to do was to make her happy. He went out of his way many times to see to her happiness.Eleanor was nothing like I thought she as going to be either. She was so sure of herself and knew what she wanted, even if she didn't think she was supposed to have it. She dropped hints, at least I thought she did, along to way about her not really being Madeline. But she charmed Remington and his friends by just being herself.I was really worried things were going to be very bad for Eleanor once the truth came out but I was pleasantly surprised where the story went after the reveal. At first I was angry with Remington but he made it up quickly and well.
I was a li'l excited when I found this book at the library book sale last week. I had to have it, because I'd read Madeline's story a couple months back and had been looking for this one ever since, because I had been left wondering what was to become of poor Eleanor. Well, Eleanor proved that she actually could take care of herself. She blossomed in this story from meek, shy, scared companion of a duchess to a girl who knew what she wanted and wasn't too scared to take it. I adored her character, she was good, like someone I'd want to be friends with. I wasn't too sure of Mr. Knight at first, he was intimidating, and more than a little overbearing and commanding, and I was left unsure of his intentions. I liked the little bit of the mystery behind who killed Lady Pricilla though, it gave an added bit of something to the story. I laughed out loud when Eleanor cut her hair as a show of defiance to Mr. Knight's commands, I was cheering her on as she learned to stand up for herself. When the time came for their marriage, I felt nervous, I didn't know how it was going to go, and how he was going to handle it when he learned the truth. I admit I was even a bit afraid for Eleanor. But it all turned out well, with an exciting kidnap and fight scene towards the end, and the return of Madeline with Gabriel in tow. I was smiling as I finished this book.
Do You like book One Kiss From You (2003)?
Remains one of my favorite historicals of all time!! The masquerade of timid and composed Eleanor pretending to be her Duchess cousin, Madeleine, who is as straightforward and vivacious as they come, was highly enjoyable. Even though I knew exactly how everything would happen and play out, I was getting increasingly nervous as the story progressed, the charade went further and further along, and Remington pushes "Madeleine" closer and closer to the wedding date. Remington and Eleanor were a perfect pair and it's wonderful watching him break down some of her defenses and help her to grow more confident and sure of herself. GREAT book!!
—Juliana
I am not typically interested in historical fiction. But I saw this on a discounted table at the local store and thought what the heck. I was happily surprised by this story. I blew through the book in two nights. So I think you could guess that it's not a mind bender but a sweet historical fiction, you like the heroine from the beginning, and the lead male character captures your interest from the first chapter. The sex is old fashioned where they chattered on under the influence of brandy and mention oral sex. Oh how shocking for the era when women wouldn't speak of such things. Even the side story about the who dunit mystery was intriguing. I thought it would be someone else so that proved Dodd is a good writer and kept the suspense going til the end. Fun, easy romance to entertain on a dark gloomy night.
—Lissy Peace
Sequel to "Scandalous Again," which you should read first if you want to know why two cousins have switched places. Book 2 is actually the more luscious romance, but it is unfortunately built upon the double whammy of bad omens: a Big Deception by the heroine and a revenge scheme by the hero. That's problematic for me when I read romance, because I know there's a really ugly conflict coming, which makes it hard to enjoy the otherwise delightful first half of the story. Yes, hero will eventually relent and offer both love and forgiveness, and of course he'll realize he loves her when she's in danger. But in between the explosive truth and the HEA, I was nearly as miserable as the heroine. Would I have read it anyway? Hell YES! Christina Dodd's historical romances are my bodice-ripper treasures
—Susan (the other Susan)
