A Study in Scandal: A Scandals romance novella

After 7 years of keeping her secret, Lady Samantha Lennox is finally going to confess to her father that it was her and not Sebastian Vale that stole the money from him. The Earl of Stratford is a cold, ruthless man with an obsession for perfection, his family is terrified of him. But Samantha will not be the reason that Sebastian cannot marry the love of his life. Her father takes the news oddly well and does not rage or punish her, when a few days pass with no repercussions, she thinks that maybe she got lucky. But the morning of the third day she learns that that was wishful thinking, the earl says that he has decided that she should marry and has decided on Lord Phillip, the second son of the Marquess of Dorre - a cruel, debauched and brutal man. Even her mother is horrified and tries to intervene - a rarity - but her father has decided and expects Samantha to obey.Samantha runs away to London, thinking her brother will help her - but when she arrives, she is almost kidnapped and then pushed into the river - if not for the quick actions of a stranger, she would have died.Lord George Churchill-Gray, Gray to his friends is a younger son of the Duke of Rowlands and an up and coming artist. He is on his way to buy some pigments, when he sees Samantha - he is drawn to her, but keeps walking, when he turns for one last look, he realizes she is in distress and goes to help. When one of the men drags her away, he acts and gives chase - only to find her in the river. He saves her and she says she can't remember who she is. He takes her back to his rented rooms and hands her over the care of his landlady. He doesn't really believe she has amnesia, but still feels protective of her. When he offers help, she says she must go home. He takes her to the coaching inn the next day, but when she sees her father, she runs again. Gray again offers to help and she gives him the barest of details and only tells him her first name. He brings her back to the house and they settle into a routine and form a friendship.Soon, Samantha wants more and thanks to the maid Jenny, she knows what she wants thanks to the 50 ways to sin pamphlets that Jenny has loaned her. When Gray's art is selected for the Royal Academy's exhibit and he takes her to a private viewing, they go to a pub afterwards to celebrate. She dances and drinks and then boldly tells Gray that she wants him. They make love and Gray forms a new plan - a plan to keep Samantha with him always. But when her father finally finds her, will he force her to marry Lord Phillip and ruin Gray or will true love win the day??This was an absolutely delightful novella, well written and paced perfectly. I loved Samantha and Gray and believed they were in love. The secondary characters are wonderful, the love scenes warm, the interaction between Samantha and Gray is sweet and the ending is perfect. This is part of the Scandals Series, but it could be read as a stand alone title - although, fair warning once you read this, you are going to want to read the other books!!

When I saw "50 ways to Sin," my eyes rolled so far back into my head I'm surprised I'm conscious. Sam is a non-entity. A real Mary-Jane that can't help but get her self into more trouble. She has no passion or interest, and has never been allowed either. It makes a good case for a woman living with an emotionally abusive man, but bad heroine material. Someone who had found a passion and pursued it in secret would have showed someone with an unbroken spirit. I like the harlot scene, but then she ruined it by going all spineless again. George is alright but not my type of people. Good for a girl who has been broken, but kind of bland for, me, a woman who prefers dominant quick-wits. Hated the 50 shades reference, lots of tell and very little show, the plotlines from other books didn't intrigue so much as bore me, and the nice bow wrapped end lacked juice. Its hoping for French wine and getting Almack's punch.

Lady Samantha and Lord George are two of the sweetest lovers I have come across this reading year. Samantha has lived under the thumb of a ruthless, cruel father, who after hearing of her attempt to help a friend by stealing from her father when she was sixteen(now 23), tells her he has arranged a marriage for her and you can guess what kind of marriage he has arranged. Samantha, in a moment of panic, takes the London stage to find her brother and get some help, but things begin to fall apart as soon as she steps off the stage. Lord George, son of a Duke, rescues her and the story leading to the development of their love for one another begins to take place. The sweetness, love and care coming from both parties as well as George's family carries the story line to its HEA. Although this is a novella, Linden has really covered all the bases here and you will definitely be thoroughly entertained and probably be smiling at the end of the story.

Lady Samantha Lennox has really done it this time. Confessing (after many years) to taking money from her father and giving it to the boy she thought she loved throws her father into a fit and he promises her to the abusive son of a peer. Seeking help from her brother she runs away to find him but her savior is not who she expected. Will her spirit be broken when her father finds her or will she fight for the man she loves?As neither the heir or the spare son of a Duke, Lord George Churchill-Gray enjoys his freedom in being able to pursue his love of painting. And being neither the heir or the spare he has no need to find a wife. When fate throws him in the position of savior can he rescue the damsel without losing his heart? And when it looks like he’s going to lose her forever will he let her go?Caroline Linden writes Samantha as a strong heroine who attempts to take charge of her own life while having the occasional doubt which adds an additional element to her character. An A in my book.

These books are splendid value for money, this particular story was really riveting. All the characters are utterly believable and the story line is very realistic. Thank you for a wonderful book and the great value for money it represents. Well worth a read.

Ok read. Kind or predictable. However happily read it. Shame they didn't make more of the fathers role. Could of added to the story. Easy sunny afternoon garden read.

Loved this story and it held my interest all the way through. Not read this author before but will look out for other books by her.

It was a nice novella with a lovely story but the details rankled. It was set in England, neither of the characters had traveled in the Americas and yet he drew her a skunk and she recognised it. Skunks are not indigenous to Europe. This would have been a simple detail for an editor to check.

Easy reading