Maura Keighly had played a key role in Everod’s downfall but she’d only been ten-years-old at the time and hadn’t fully understood the scene she’d had the misfortune to witness.  She’s all grown up now and her aunt has plans for her to marry Everod’s brother Rowan.  Maura doesn’t have any interest in marrying Rowan; he’s more like a brother.  Everod, on the other hand, has been the man who’s occupied a special place in her heart for many years - even if he has been absent from her life.

 

When Everod was only sixteen-years-old he gave into hormones and succumbed to his father’s twenty-four year old fourth wife, Georgette’s seduction.  Their liaison ultimately ripped the family apart and almost cost him his life.  He still bears the scar across his throat as a constant reminder of his own father’s disdain. When he learns that Maura has accompanied his father and his wife, Georgette, to London for the season, he sees his opportunity to have his revenge. 

 

Seduction has been the downfall of many young ladies and Everod’s certainly not above using his manly charms against her.  It seems simple enough; seducing Maura would go a long way toward paying back Georgette through her niece’s humiliation.  The situation goes a little awry when his friends and their women become involved.  While Everod’s taking great pains to annoy Georgette and get close to Maura, his friends’ women are taking Maura into their circle and doing their best to protect her from Everod’s lusty intentions.  Somewhere along the line revenge takes a backseat to his ever increasing love for Maura, but their courtship is going to be far from ‘socially acceptable.’  After all, he is one of the les sauvages nobles and following the dictates of their peers is simply not done.  Can Maura and Everod let go of the past to ensure a loving future?

 

Barbara Pierce continues her enchanting CARLISLE SERIES with SCANDALOUS BY NIGHT.  With characters you can’t help but laugh with, love, and hate – all at the same time - this is one book that kept me reading long past bedtime.  Everod is absolutely lovable and I couldn’t help but feel his heartache over his family’s rejection.  Maura is a lovely young woman with a spunky personality and determination to do what she believes is right – even when it costs her.  I absolutely love how Everod’s friends and their women take him to task for his boorish attitude and take Maura into their folds.  They’re simply a fun group of people who seem to enjoy thumbing their noses at propriety.  Georgette is the perfect villain.  She’s such a self-centered leech that I just couldn’t see any redeeming qualities about her… which makes you keep reading just waiting for her to finally pay for her wickedness.  Ms. Pierce makes Regency England storylines delightfully sexy and fun especially if you enjoy stories where the characters live by their own code of ethics and thumb their noses at etiquette.

 

SCANDALOUS BY NIGHT is the fourth book in the CARLISLE SERIES.  The other books in the series are:

WICKED UNDER THE COVERS

SINFUL BETWEEN THE SHEETS

NAUGHTY BY NATURE

 

By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne Click here to Buy this Book Now!   Romance Junkies Content Editor: Claudia Romance Junkies Publishing Editor: Chrissy   Top of Page