My Lord Scandal (Notorious Bachelors #1) by Emma Wildes
September 7, 2010
Historical Romance
Paperback, 336 Pages
Signet

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: "Others may not know you, but I know you."

Lady Amelia has led a rather sheltered life in the country. When her father brings her to
London for her introduction to the ton she is an instant success. Dubbed the "Elusive Venus", her beauty commands sonnets and brings the fortune hunter out of the woodwork. But Amelia isn’t interested in being married off. She hates crowds and merely wants to go back to the country. When she retires early one evening she catches a would be robber sneaking through her bedroom. Shocked yet curious she allows him one kiss before he escapes.That single kiss burns into her memories and she finds herself searching the crowded ballrooms for a glimpse of him.

The robber is none other Lord Alexander St. James. A rake of the first order, Alex is not a thief, but his grandmother has approached him to recover a family heirloom that Amelia’s family has in their possession. When Amelia asks her Aunt Sophia about him she is informed he is the enemy and to forget him. But Amelia cannot and soon she and Alex embark on a secret love affair that burns out of control. But their family’s’ feud spans several generations and unless Amelia and Alex solve the mystery of the past, they will never have a future.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Wilde’s first installment of her Notorious Bachelors series-My Lord Scandal. Based on a group of men who’s friendships were solidified through war, each book deals with the life of one friend. Ms. Wildes has created a set of characters that are charismatic and deep in personality and wit.  A wickedly sexy love story with a Romeo and Juliet theme; Lady Amelia Hathaway and Alex St James are two star crossed lovers who defy family and society in order to be together.

Amelia, our heroine, is a strong woman who’s shy nature hides a heart of gold and a spine of steel. Alex is deliciously naughty and a rake who has been linked to numerous women throughout society. As you follow their relationship, you see a different side to both of them.

We see that Alex is not the scandalous rake everyone assumes he is. He is loving, humorous, intelligent man who maintains a certain facade to help friends in need. While Amelia looks the proper lady she does not act like a lady of Regency times. She is bright and intelligent-filled with humor and passion. Very curious about the world around her, she follows her heart.
I really liked that Amelia and Alex become friends before embarking on a physical relationship.

Alex starts pursuing her because of her beauty, but falls in love with her because of her inner beauty.

"I’m sure they believe I just married a beautiful woman. When they realize I married a beautiful person, their attitudes will adjust."

The romance and love scenes between them are very sensual and rich in depth. Ms. Wildes’s word building skills paint a stunning portrait of their love that draws you in and has you sighing longingly for your own one true love. They are extremely playful in and out of bed which made me fall even more in love with them both. Neither Alex nor Amelia play coy when admitting their feelings to each other. They lay their hearts bare and revile in the passion it produces.

Wildes does an excellent job of adding secondary story lines that are intriguing without becoming overwhelming.  Adding an unknown accomplice to help facilitate their love affair was delightful. Hints and teases are sent to the them in the form of letters that were written by their ancestors who were also lovers. The flawless blending of the their love with the escalation of tension between the two families as the mystery is gradually solved made this an irresistible read.  I look forward to the next installment in this series.

Rating: 4/5

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This series includes:
My Lord Scandal
Our Wicked Mistake – 10/5/10
His Sinful Secret – 11/2/10

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