Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel by Samantha Grace
Historical Romance
February 1, 2012
Sourcebooks

Reviewed by Mandi

Lana Hillary had a fiancé who she discovered was a liar, so now she is on the search for a decent, respectable man. With pressure from her mother to find a husband this season, she is intensely looking for the right person. But she refuses to be stuck with someone she doesn’t like, which is how she finds herself climbing down a tree after an unpleasant gentleman tries to woo her at a ball. With the help of a stranger, who happens to be Lord Andrew Forest or Drew, she gets down the tree without much drama. Drew is immediately intrigued by this beautiful woman. Lana pegs him for a scoundrel right away.

When she gets invited to her friend’s Phoebe’s house party, Lana is excited until she realizes Drew is Phoebe’s brother in-law. Phoebe tells Lana that the house party will be too boring for him, and he won’t show, which calms Lana down considerably.

But of course they all end up at the house party together, even Drew who can’t get Lana out of his mind. His brother has forbidden Drew to be anywhere near Lana, because he knows that Drew can be dishonorable in his intentions.

And so sets up the book. They are at a house party together where Drew is a scoundrel, and Lana tries so very hard not to be swayed by him. But not really. I’ll get to that in a minute. The first 100 pages or so of this is kind of cute. Drew really does come across as a scoundrel, although in the back of my mind I wondered why he was going to such great lengths to be close to Lana. Why now has he become obsessed with one woman? But there is cute dialogue that made me continue.

But once we get to the house party, things go down hill. Lana all of a sudden can’t decide if she is going to be this big flirt or a proper lady. Her character felt very inconsistent.

In spite of her resolve to marry a respectable gentleman, a roguish one still possessed the power to turn her head, especially one as charming as Lord Andrew was.

“I’m sure you are accustomed to leaving women breathless,” she replied as smoothly as possible. Lana might be an innocent in the strictest sense, but two years in society didn’t leave her naïve. Nevertheless, flirting in such a manner was a bold action of her, and thrilling.

Lana seems to flirt with ease in this book, so I’m not sure if it really is a “bold action” for her. And then Lana starts with the flip-flopping. Going from refusing to want Drew near her because he is a scoundrel, to getting upset when he doesn’t pay her enough attention.

And then all of a sudden Lana realizes she wants to sleep with him so they meet (after Lana is chased by some random bad guy which she forgets to tell Drew about 30 seconds after she escapes random bad guy)

They have sex. Which I don’t think is a spoiler because it mentions this in the blurb. After they have sex, Drew realizes Lana was a virgin. He gets upset because she had insinuated she was experienced…from this conversation:

Virgins are off limits, “ he replied bluntly. “They always fancy themselves in love,and I don’t wish to bring heartache to anyone. No virgins. It’s an unbreakable rule.”

“Again Lord Andrew, what makes you think I’m a virgin?”

The impudence. This entire conversation was inappropriate for mixed company, yet Lana Hillary didn’t blush, swoon,, or exhibit any other typical reactions he would expect. Perhaps he had pegged her incorrectly.

“For starters, you’re a respectable young woman from a good family.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, and I’m certain that’s written in stone. Are you telling me you’ve never met a respectable young lady from a good family who behaved a bit recklessly?”

“No,” he admitted with a smirk. “I suppose all young ladies don’t fit the same mold.”

“Then I rest my case,” she stated triumphantly, a smile lighting up her face.

Drew clapped. “Bravo. Excellent argument, Miss Hillary. Enough of this nonsense.”

So from this conversation, Drew now thinks she is not a virgin? And Lana is devious enough to pretend not to be and then have sex with him. And then be upset because he is angry she tricked him??

Soon after this he declares love. And then she goes back to flip flopping again, being jealous of petty things. I became so frustrated with this book. Their relationship made no sense. Drew becomes the anti-scoundrel and Lana becomes this jealous flirt, who tricks Drew into bed with her. I had absolutely no interest in finishing the last 100 pages.

DNF.

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