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Lockets & Lace #14
Taming A Scandal
Socialite Mercia Saunders got evicted due to a touchy situation--which she feels was justified because it was for the sake of her art. Now her Philadelphia landlady has shipped her belongings to the family’s Newport, Rhode Island, home. Her father is livid and demands she choose between being courted by the hand-picked sons of prominent Newport business owners or live scandal-free with her oldest brother on a Texas cattle ranch. To a young woman raised with society, the ranch sounds like boring banishment, but she refuses to let her father choose her beau.
Pinkerton Agent Dominic Prentice is on the trail of a jewelry thief when he first meets the enticing Mercia—too bad he’s wearing the disguise of an elderly Southern gentleman. Then he’s assigned the task of keeping the art student under surveillance on a west-bound train to Texas. He can’t resist a railroad flirtation as himself, and the two draw closer than Mercia’s chaperones know. His allegiance to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency is tested when Dominic is forced to decide between tracking the jewelry or wooing the maiden.
Pinkerton Agent Dominic Prentice is on the trail of a jewelry thief when he first meets the enticing Mercia—too bad he’s wearing the disguise of an elderly Southern gentleman. Then he’s assigned the task of keeping the art student under surveillance on a west-bound train to Texas. He can’t resist a railroad flirtation as himself, and the two draw closer than Mercia’s chaperones know. His allegiance to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency is tested when Dominic is forced to decide between tracking the jewelry or wooing the maiden.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2019
33 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Linda Carroll-Bradd
130books300followersAs a child, Linda was often found lying on her bed reading about characters having exciting adventures in places far away. Upon reaching a landmark birthday, she decided to write one of those romances she loved so much. Easier said than done. Perseverance paid out and twelve years later, she received her first call from a publisher and a confession story was published. Now Linda writes heartwarming contemporary and historical stories with a touch of humor, and many have a tie to her previous home of Texas.
Linda enjoys writing from her cabin in the mountains among the cedar and pines with her husband of 34 years and their two much-loved dogs.
Linda enjoys writing from her cabin in the mountains among the cedar and pines with her husband of 34 years and their two much-loved dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 27, 2021
Mercia Saunders was studying art at the Pennsylvania Academy, when she took her sketching too far and they shipped her belongings home to Newport, Rhode Island. Her father Adam isn’t impressed, he gives her two choices, marry one of the three men he has picked out for her or visit her brother Fitz in dusty Texas.
Mercia likes her comforts, shopping, social life and being banished to Texas sounds boring and she hasn’t seen her brother in seven years. But, it’s a far better option than marrying one of the men her father has chosen, she packs her trunks and begins her journey west.
Her father has organized for her to travel with the Williams family, they stop in Chicago and then she leaves civilization behind. Pinkerton Agent Dominic Prentice, is trying to find a stolen locket and Mercia’s father has employed him to keep an eye on his daughter as well.
He finds Mercia very attractive, he goes by the name Grant Preston, and she gets rather flustered around him. While staying at the Star S Ranch, he notices Mercia has drawn a picture of the locket he’s being trying to locate, and a lady was wearing it in Chicago. Allan Pinkerton’s impressed with Mercia's drawing skills, he offers her a job working as an artist for his agency and Dominic asks her to marry him. I received a copy of Taming A Scandal in exchange for an honest review, a sweet romance and three stars from me.
Mercia likes her comforts, shopping, social life and being banished to Texas sounds boring and she hasn’t seen her brother in seven years. But, it’s a far better option than marrying one of the men her father has chosen, she packs her trunks and begins her journey west.
Her father has organized for her to travel with the Williams family, they stop in Chicago and then she leaves civilization behind. Pinkerton Agent Dominic Prentice, is trying to find a stolen locket and Mercia’s father has employed him to keep an eye on his daughter as well.
He finds Mercia very attractive, he goes by the name Grant Preston, and she gets rather flustered around him. While staying at the Star S Ranch, he notices Mercia has drawn a picture of the locket he’s being trying to locate, and a lady was wearing it in Chicago. Allan Pinkerton’s impressed with Mercia's drawing skills, he offers her a job working as an artist for his agency and Dominic asks her to marry him. I received a copy of Taming A Scandal in exchange for an honest review, a sweet romance and three stars from me.
April 14, 2019
Clean romance
This is a clean romance. You will not see Christian teaching or scripture in this one. The two main characters give this book a fun feel. A spunky young lady who doesn't care to follow society rules teamed with Pinkerton Detective who wears many disguises. This quick weekend read is a great choice to relax with.
This is a clean romance. You will not see Christian teaching or scripture in this one. The two main characters give this book a fun feel. A spunky young lady who doesn't care to follow society rules teamed with Pinkerton Detective who wears many disguises. This quick weekend read is a great choice to relax with.
July 27, 2019
This was a sweet historical romance and I loved the bits of true history the author added in that showed she did her research—and yes, I checked. �
Mercia Saunders has been attending art school in Philadelphia. While on a break and visiting her family in Rhode Island, she discovers she has been evicted from her rooming house in Philly, and to escape the scandal, she is being sent to her older brother in the wilds of Texas. To complicate matters, a Pinkerton detective, Dominic Grant, has been set on her trail, both to watch her for her father, and to see if she’s involved in the theft of a silver locket. Dominic does this through a series of disguises that she never quite sees through.
The story is sweet and has a HEA ending, but� Mercia starts off as a somewhat spoiled single woman (she’s 25) and that doesn’t change. Characters are usually supposed to grow and change through a story and she doesn’t. Though she does downgrade her wardrobe at the end, she’s still very much into herself. Dominic changes a lot (pun intended) as he goes through at least five disguises while watching her, but that also is all on the surface. There’s not much depth to him. But at least he helps out on the ranch. Although I liked the characters, I’d really have liked to have seen some more depth to them. And yes, I realize this is a short novella and a quick read, but there could ha be been a little more development, especially where Mercia is concerned.
Seeing the setting through artistic Mercia’s eyes was interesting—and well done. It’s one of the best parts of the story. The differences between Philadelphia and the tiny town in Texas; the long travel by train, stagecoach, and more. Excellently done.
I think, however, the thing that bothered me the most was that the mystery wasn’t solved. We never find out who took the locket. I have a feeling this part of the story is continued in the other stories in the series, but it bothered me.
So� overall, if you’re looking for just a quick, fun, sweet, quick read, definitely pick this one up. I do enjoy the writer’s style and her attention to detail. But if you’re looking for depth, this isn’t it.
Mercia Saunders has been attending art school in Philadelphia. While on a break and visiting her family in Rhode Island, she discovers she has been evicted from her rooming house in Philly, and to escape the scandal, she is being sent to her older brother in the wilds of Texas. To complicate matters, a Pinkerton detective, Dominic Grant, has been set on her trail, both to watch her for her father, and to see if she’s involved in the theft of a silver locket. Dominic does this through a series of disguises that she never quite sees through.
The story is sweet and has a HEA ending, but� Mercia starts off as a somewhat spoiled single woman (she’s 25) and that doesn’t change. Characters are usually supposed to grow and change through a story and she doesn’t. Though she does downgrade her wardrobe at the end, she’s still very much into herself. Dominic changes a lot (pun intended) as he goes through at least five disguises while watching her, but that also is all on the surface. There’s not much depth to him. But at least he helps out on the ranch. Although I liked the characters, I’d really have liked to have seen some more depth to them. And yes, I realize this is a short novella and a quick read, but there could ha be been a little more development, especially where Mercia is concerned.
Seeing the setting through artistic Mercia’s eyes was interesting—and well done. It’s one of the best parts of the story. The differences between Philadelphia and the tiny town in Texas; the long travel by train, stagecoach, and more. Excellently done.
I think, however, the thing that bothered me the most was that the mystery wasn’t solved. We never find out who took the locket. I have a feeling this part of the story is continued in the other stories in the series, but it bothered me.
So� overall, if you’re looking for just a quick, fun, sweet, quick read, definitely pick this one up. I do enjoy the writer’s style and her attention to detail. But if you’re looking for depth, this isn’t it.
June 2, 2019
Mercia Sanders has been evicted from her boarding house, and now her father has set a decision in front of her. Either she allows herself to be courted by the son of a Newport business owner, or she goes to her brother's ranch and stays out of trouble. Pinkerton Agent Dominic has been hired to keep her under surveillance. Can these two find love under such circumstances?
This was a clean read, I will give it that. However, I found little I liked about Mercia. She starts out a spoiled socialite, and she doesn't change through the story. At no point does she admit she may have made a mistake or that her father was right. Instead, she forced everyone to conform to her viewpoint. Her independent attitude didn't feel right for the time period.
Dominic was a bit more interesting, changing disguises to keep from getting noticed by Mercia. But that also makes it even more unrealistic. While I accept that he falls for Mercia, what basis does she have for loving him, when she's never met the real him?
Not my favorite read, but other's might not be as particular as me.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.
This was a clean read, I will give it that. However, I found little I liked about Mercia. She starts out a spoiled socialite, and she doesn't change through the story. At no point does she admit she may have made a mistake or that her father was right. Instead, she forced everyone to conform to her viewpoint. Her independent attitude didn't feel right for the time period.
Dominic was a bit more interesting, changing disguises to keep from getting noticed by Mercia. But that also makes it even more unrealistic. While I accept that he falls for Mercia, what basis does she have for loving him, when she's never met the real him?
Not my favorite read, but other's might not be as particular as me.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.
June 8, 2019
There wasnt really anything wrong with this book, I just don't think it was the book for me. I got quite bored about a quarter of the way through and it took me a loooong time to finish because of that. I'd be interested to read more by this author as I enjoy the way that she writes but this book just wasn't the one.
April 28, 2020
Great Book.
Thank you, Linda Carroll-Bradd, really enjoyed your story, all of Dominic's different people were wonderful and a fun read. Mercia and Dominic were a perfect pair.
Thank you, Linda Carroll-Bradd, really enjoyed your story, all of Dominic's different people were wonderful and a fun read. Mercia and Dominic were a perfect pair.
December 9, 2020
I couldn't get into this book. Skipped to the end but still didn't seem worth my time.
October 31, 2020
A good read
Dominic- a Pinkerton agent
Mercia- art student who is a free spirit
I enjoyed reading this sweet story with a good HEA.
Dominic- a Pinkerton agent
Mercia- art student who is a free spirit
I enjoyed reading this sweet story with a good HEA.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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