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books_and_more_books_byt's review
3.0
3.5 stars
To Tame a Scandalous Lady is the third book in the Once Upon a Scandal series. I read it as a stand-alone and I don’t think I missed anything. I haven’t read a lot of this author’s work, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters were interesting and easy to connect with. The storyline was great, and the book caught my attention right away.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To Tame a Scandalous Lady is the third book in the Once Upon a Scandal series. I read it as a stand-alone and I don’t think I missed anything. I haven’t read a lot of this author’s work, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The characters were interesting and easy to connect with. The storyline was great, and the book caught my attention right away.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
winterreader40's review
4.0
Flora has always wanted to start her own stud farm but because she's a lady it's not allowed, ever since she reached her majority and gained control of her dowry however she's decided it's time to move ahead with her plan. She applies for the assistant manager at Amstead Gardens disguised as a man, Christian's family has run the racing stables for 300 years, but he is trying to rebuild after a fire destroyed the stables and killed his father.
Christian finds his new assistant manager extremely capable if a bit young, until he catches her bathing in the pond one day and realizes he's a fool, and he angrily decides to fire her, till she points out how sexist he's being. The back and forth between these 2 is great, Flora is so strong in so many ways, and Christian is actually willing to grow if you manage to pry open his one track mind and help him broaden his horizons.
We also actually have an experienced, not widowed heroine that doesn't want children which is awesome.
Christian finds his new assistant manager extremely capable if a bit young, until he catches her bathing in the pond one day and realizes he's a fool, and he angrily decides to fire her, till she points out how sexist he's being. The back and forth between these 2 is great, Flora is so strong in so many ways, and Christian is actually willing to grow if you manage to pry open his one track mind and help him broaden his horizons.
We also actually have an experienced, not widowed heroine that doesn't want children which is awesome.
awishman's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
readingwithhippos's review
4.0
This series is great! If you read "horse books" as a kid, this is the romance novel your adult self needs.
britacristea's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
slovenianbookworm's review
4.0
Okay, first fo all, this was a new to me historical author so I didn’t know what to expect.
Flora is a duke’s daughter who loves horses. She loves horses but her status means she isn’t really in a position to work with them so to learn more about that she applies for a job in Amstead’s stables. Disguised as a man she gets to know the trainings, the horses and also their owner, Christian.
Christian wants to rebuild the stables’ glory by winning the race with one of his prized horses. He wants to bring investors to the stables so the scandal is the last thing he needs. When he realizes one of the trainers is actually a woman, his perspective about everything changes.
Flora wants to be equal in any relationship so for Christian to think of her as a lady, a delicate lady who belongs at the balls is unacceptable. What follows is a battle of wills, a friendship but also a forbidden relationship. Flora’s full identity is for him still a mystery.
One thing I noticed is that the way Christian found out Flora is actually a woman is very similar to the book I have read on Wattpad that was also a historical romance novel and where a woman also disguised as a man.
That was the only similarity to that book, by the way.
I was surprised how quickly he discovered but at the same time I loved that their relationship first began as boss-trainer than to woman-man, friends and at last lovers. I also couldn’t believe Christian never noticed that under all those clothes, with her feminine figure, voice, hair, is hidden a woman.
While I love the story and how well written it was, my issues with this book is that it put too much focus on training and horses and not their relationship. I mean, I felt like they didn’t really have any relationship up until 50 %. I wish it put more focus on the romance part.
I have still many questions about Flora, mainly about her past and previous relationship.
4 stars.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Flora is a duke’s daughter who loves horses. She loves horses but her status means she isn’t really in a position to work with them so to learn more about that she applies for a job in Amstead’s stables. Disguised as a man she gets to know the trainings, the horses and also their owner, Christian.
Christian wants to rebuild the stables’ glory by winning the race with one of his prized horses. He wants to bring investors to the stables so the scandal is the last thing he needs. When he realizes one of the trainers is actually a woman, his perspective about everything changes.
Flora wants to be equal in any relationship so for Christian to think of her as a lady, a delicate lady who belongs at the balls is unacceptable. What follows is a battle of wills, a friendship but also a forbidden relationship. Flora’s full identity is for him still a mystery.
One thing I noticed is that the way Christian found out Flora is actually a woman is very similar to the book I have read on Wattpad that was also a historical romance novel and where a woman also disguised as a man.
That was the only similarity to that book, by the way.
I was surprised how quickly he discovered but at the same time I loved that their relationship first began as boss-trainer than to woman-man, friends and at last lovers. I also couldn’t believe Christian never noticed that under all those clothes, with her feminine figure, voice, hair, is hidden a woman.
While I love the story and how well written it was, my issues with this book is that it put too much focus on training and horses and not their relationship. I mean, I felt like they didn’t really have any relationship up until 50 %. I wish it put more focus on the romance part.
I have still many questions about Flora, mainly about her past and previous relationship.
Spoiler
Flora is on the shelf, she's way past the ''appropriate'' age to marry. She apparently had men who asked for her hand but turned them all down. What surprised me is that she was intimate with a man in the past because she wanted to explore the possibilities and because if men can do it then so can women. Now, when she was intimate with Christian, there was no mentioning of the protection. So tehnically she could be pregnant at any time. She mentions that she probably can't have children. Ummm, so her previous relationships were without protection too? What would happen in the past if she was pregnant? How would her family reacted? I feel like I had a glimpse in her family life but I missed more of that. Her family members were portrayed but they were side characters, we met them but not enough. We are told about her past but the book lacked details. So many unanswered questions.4 stars.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
jbridge's review
4.0
Historical romance and horse girl fiction are definitely not a combo that I expected to find together but it *works*.
Flora has attempted to appease her family for her whole life. Christian is an oblivious man. Both love horses and want to make names for themselves as horse trainers. One of them has the biological means to do so in a world run by men. One of them pretends to.
I truly appreciate how accessible To Tame a Scandalous Lady is. I love a historical romance, but they are so frequently Quite Difficult To Read. The dialogue and prose flew by, and the descriptions and settings didn't get bogged down with too much historical jargon and verbiage. This was a delightful, light read with a bit of social commentary that is still applicable today.
Flora has attempted to appease her family for her whole life. Christian is an oblivious man. Both love horses and want to make names for themselves as horse trainers. One of them has the biological means to do so in a world run by men. One of them pretends to.
I truly appreciate how accessible To Tame a Scandalous Lady is. I love a historical romance, but they are so frequently Quite Difficult To Read. The dialogue and prose flew by, and the descriptions and settings didn't get bogged down with too much historical jargon and verbiage. This was a delightful, light read with a bit of social commentary that is still applicable today.
kaitrates's review
3.0
I absolutely ADORED this premise. A Lady disguises herself as a gent to take control of her destiny and throw off the ties society and her family use to keep her down? Sign me up!
There was a lot in this that worked for me. Andimals can be hit or miss bur De la Rosa incorporated the horses in such a fun and natural way. I loved the secondary characters SO much, the casual ways in which characters spoke about big issues like gender identity, and the setting amidst horse racing. The book doesn’t hold back with Flora’s views on the world and I fucking loved it and her. She is, by far, one of the fiercest and favorite heroines I’ve read.
On the downside, the sex scenes were steamy BUT lacked foreplay. The development of Flora and Christian’s relationship felt rushed, as did their HEA. His views track for the time period but the conflict felt like a much bigger break than could be resolved in the short span it did. I really wants more groveling!
I look forward to going back and reading the other books in this trilogy as well.
A copy of his book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a review.
There was a lot in this that worked for me. Andimals can be hit or miss bur De la Rosa incorporated the horses in such a fun and natural way. I loved the secondary characters SO much, the casual ways in which characters spoke about big issues like gender identity, and the setting amidst horse racing. The book doesn’t hold back with Flora’s views on the world and I fucking loved it and her. She is, by far, one of the fiercest and favorite heroines I’ve read.
On the downside, the sex scenes were steamy BUT lacked foreplay. The development of Flora and Christian’s relationship felt rushed, as did their HEA. His views track for the time period but the conflict felt like a much bigger break than could be resolved in the short span it did. I really wants more groveling!
I look forward to going back and reading the other books in this trilogy as well.
A copy of his book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a review.
cakt1991's review
2.0
Review posted here: https://courtneyreadsromancesite.wordpress.com/2019/12/03/review-of-to-tame-a-scandalous-lady-once-upon-a-scandal-3-by-liana-de-la-rosa/
xsophiehoughton's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way affected my view.
To Tame a Scandalous Lady follows Lady Flora Campbell, as she masquerades as the assistant trainer at the outstanding Amstead Gardens stables. Her entire life, she’s cared about horses, and knew that because of her position in society - being the daughter of a Duke and sister to a prominent Member of Parliament - she would never have an opportunity like this. Pretending to be William Grant, she’s loving interacting with the animals, especially thoroughbred Asad, and learning from the best under head trainer Baniti Mubarak, and Christian Andrews, the Marquess of Amstead. Christian is struggling to rebuild the Gardens into how it was in its heyday, before the devastating fire which left them in debt, and his father dead. Hosting a party to hopefully entice investors, he meets the new trainer, and when he realises that William is in fact Flora, that’s sparks are flying. The attraction between the two is undeniable, but both know that if word got out that one of the trainers was a woman, and even worse, a Lady, they’d all be ruined.
This book was a bit of an impulse request, but as soon as I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Flora was an amazing character, who had always be put in a box that didn’t fit, and was finally feeling freedom when at the Gardens and with Christian, who seemed to respect and trust her. That more than anything really helped Flora to grow, as people were starting to see her as someone to be listened to when it came to horse training, and not just a lady to be admire for her position in society. She was a really caring person, and especially around the animals, which was wonderful to see. Christian needed someone like Flora to help him come to terms with the accident that caused the fire, and to support him through his endeavours in the stables. He fought their attraction at first, and we really see him struggle with reconciling the woman he loves with being in a position of some danger, when training flighty colts who want to bolt at anything. Both of the main characters grew as the story progressed, and their relationship was wonderful to read. Definitely a happy impulse request on my part!
To Tame a Scandalous Lady follows Lady Flora Campbell, as she masquerades as the assistant trainer at the outstanding Amstead Gardens stables. Her entire life, she’s cared about horses, and knew that because of her position in society - being the daughter of a Duke and sister to a prominent Member of Parliament - she would never have an opportunity like this. Pretending to be William Grant, she’s loving interacting with the animals, especially thoroughbred Asad, and learning from the best under head trainer Baniti Mubarak, and Christian Andrews, the Marquess of Amstead. Christian is struggling to rebuild the Gardens into how it was in its heyday, before the devastating fire which left them in debt, and his father dead. Hosting a party to hopefully entice investors, he meets the new trainer, and when he realises that William is in fact Flora, that’s sparks are flying. The attraction between the two is undeniable, but both know that if word got out that one of the trainers was a woman, and even worse, a Lady, they’d all be ruined.
This book was a bit of an impulse request, but as soon as I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Flora was an amazing character, who had always be put in a box that didn’t fit, and was finally feeling freedom when at the Gardens and with Christian, who seemed to respect and trust her. That more than anything really helped Flora to grow, as people were starting to see her as someone to be listened to when it came to horse training, and not just a lady to be admire for her position in society. She was a really caring person, and especially around the animals, which was wonderful to see. Christian needed someone like Flora to help him come to terms with the accident that caused the fire, and to support him through his endeavours in the stables. He fought their attraction at first, and we really see him struggle with reconciling the woman he loves with being in a position of some danger, when training flighty colts who want to bolt at anything. Both of the main characters grew as the story progressed, and their relationship was wonderful to read. Definitely a happy impulse request on my part!