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adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Piers is amazing! The spy angle (spoiler) is what made the book so incredibly to me, aside from the romance. I wish that the conclusion was more life or death, and (spoiler again) ACTUALLY related to him being a spy. Reveal of the "spy" plot was such a let down. You can't almost kill Charlotte and have it be an accident. Charlotte balances Piers in ways that they both don't realize for far too long.
Edmund's little appearances always made me laugh. Imagining an 8 year old, very stoically, sitting in the hallway in the middle of the night to catch a murderer was so funny.
Favorite part of the book hands down- Piers talking about how he's very powerful, and didn't have to marry Charlotte unless he wanted to. I couldn't stop reading (literally- 4am. I have a problem, and it's finals season).
Edmund's little appearances always made me laugh. Imagining an 8 year old, very stoically, sitting in the hallway in the middle of the night to catch a murderer was so funny.
Favorite part of the book hands down- Piers talking about how he's very powerful, and didn't have to marry Charlotte unless he wanted to. I couldn't stop reading (literally- 4am. I have a problem, and it's finals season).
I have found most of Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove books to be absolutely delightful. They are full of unconventional heroes and heroines with witty and often hilarious dialogue and plot events. They manage to seem somewhat unique in a pretty non-unique genre. Do You Want to Start a Scandal continues that trend. Charlotte begins this story completely determined to not be forced into marriage with Piers Brandon, Lord Granville, through the machinations of her high-handed mother. Unfortunately, while confronting Piers to let him know her stance on the matter they ended up getting caught in what appeared to be a compromising situation. It turns out that, despite all her best intentions, Charlotte may end up having to marry Piers after all. However, she manages to find a way to exploit a social loophole that could get her out of a forced betrothal if she can figure out the identity of a mystery couple who could prove her "relative" innocence. That leads to a regency detective adventure that throws Charlotte and Piers together and leads her to discover that there is a lot more to the seemingly stodgy Piers than she could have imagined.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and there were several moments that made me laugh out loud ... an uncommon occurrence for this genre. I loved Charlotte as heroine and Piers as hero. I loved how the two of them together became stronger. I never quite understood Piers's overly quick jump to a betrothal with Charlotte. I didn't understand his motivation, and I didn't quite understand what his hope was when it came to their relationship in the first half of the novel. I felt like his hidden "dark" nature was not ever satisfactorily explained or even shown, and for that reason it seemed as if the ending resolution to his struggles happened way too quickly. Having said that, I LOVED his way of apologizing and proposing to Charlotte, and I REALLY REALLY loved his wedding present to her. That was super sweet. In many ways this was no different than every other historical romance out there. Hero and Heroine meet. Circumstances conspire to keep them apart. They can't keep their hands off each other. They realize they are in love. Happily Ever After. The End. But the great characters and Tessa Dare's fun story telling ability help this to rise to the top of a crowded field. I really enjoyed it. Four stars!
Overall, I really enjoyed this story, and there were several moments that made me laugh out loud ... an uncommon occurrence for this genre. I loved Charlotte as heroine and Piers as hero. I loved how the two of them together became stronger. I never quite understood Piers's overly quick jump to a betrothal with Charlotte. I didn't understand his motivation, and I didn't quite understand what his hope was when it came to their relationship in the first half of the novel. I felt like his hidden "dark" nature was not ever satisfactorily explained or even shown, and for that reason it seemed as if the ending resolution to his struggles happened way too quickly. Having said that, I LOVED his way of apologizing and proposing to Charlotte, and I REALLY REALLY loved his wedding present to her. That was super sweet. In many ways this was no different than every other historical romance out there. Hero and Heroine meet. Circumstances conspire to keep them apart. They can't keep their hands off each other. They realize they are in love. Happily Ever After. The End. But the great characters and Tessa Dare's fun story telling ability help this to rise to the top of a crowded field. I really enjoyed it. Four stars!
“What’s your plan, Agent Brandon?” she whispered. “Do you mean to kiss me so long and so hard that I’ll forget your identity?”
“No.” His hand slid to the back of her head, tangling in her hair—so tightly she gasped. “I mean to kiss you so long and so hard that you’ll forget yours.”
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“No.” His hand slid to the back of her head, tangling in her hair—so tightly she gasped. “I mean to kiss you so long and so hard that you’ll forget yours.”
okkkk mr smooth operator put it back in your pants, this is a maccas drive thru
I didn't expect much but was so pleasantly surprised. a good fun historical romance fiction? it's been 84 years.
Honestly, I think this my favorite of the series. I loved Charlotte and Piers and their mystery solving antics. I saw another reviewer said this was Nancy Drew meets steamy historical romance, and I completely agree. This was such a fun, steamy romp and there were so many funny moments. Charlotte and Piers are absolutely delightful. Their chemistry and banter is immaculate. I didn't want the story to end. While I didn't love the third act conflict, I did love the ending and the epilogue.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will continue on with Tessa Dare's backlist.
Overall, I really enjoyed this and will continue on with Tessa Dare's backlist.
A delightful, funny romance with some mystery. It was so refreshing to finally have Charlotte's story and Piers was so so wonderful.
I absolutely loved this book. It was a joy from beginning to end. Lots of funny parts, and, as always, well written.
Another delightful time. Charlotte was a fun character from the jump when she snuck into the library to "save" Piers. From there, it was just a series of escalating escapades with her investigating the true "tuppers", Piers being more and more surprised and enamored by her, and then, of course them falling for each other.
The "I can't give you love because I can't love" MMC is a recurring theme for Tessa Dare, but I'm not tired of it. Probably because the women they actually do love just brush it off and, with conviction, say "oh, I'll show you". Piers obviously fell hard, and while his actions to make her his were, as she chastises him for, disrespectful, manipulative and unacceptable, his redemption efforts were quite sweet.
Charlotte was just a fun, force of a character. Especially with how observant and intuitive she was with Piers, especiallyabout figuring out that he's a spy. In some ways she came of as silly and naive because of her bubbliness and single-mindedness, but she really was quite intelligent, especially when it came to people. I liked that Piers called that out about her too.
I also quite enjoyed the scene at the hunt picnic with a little bit of historical queer rep. Charlotte's mistake a d how it played out was a funny scene.
The "I can't give you love because I can't love" MMC is a recurring theme for Tessa Dare, but I'm not tired of it. Probably because the women they actually do love just brush it off and, with conviction, say "oh, I'll show you". Piers obviously fell hard, and while his actions to make her his were, as she chastises him for, disrespectful, manipulative and unacceptable, his redemption efforts were quite sweet.
Charlotte was just a fun, force of a character. Especially with how observant and intuitive she was with Piers, especiallyabout figuring out that he's a spy. In some ways she came of as silly and naive because of her bubbliness and single-mindedness, but she really was quite intelligent, especially when it came to people. I liked that Piers called that out about her too.
I also quite enjoyed the scene at the hunt picnic with a little bit of historical queer rep. Charlotte's mistake a d how it played out was a funny scene.