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The Duke Trilogy #2
Duke of Scandal
The scandalously handsome Samson Carlisle is not the deceiving nobleman Lady Olivia was searching for...but he's the lover she fervently desires.
A lady's heart is a tempting plaything for the Duke of Scandal.
He stands apart from other men—a dark, tall, breathtaking figure of seductive masculinity. With a smile, he can topple the defenses of even the most proper maiden.
And with a single whisper, she will be his.
A wife in name only, Lady Olivia Shea has returned to London in a rage, determined to confront her new husband, who vanished months ago with her inheritance on their wedding night. Yet this hauntingly familiar man who stands before her—this face and form she adores—is not her deceiving Edmund but the blackguard's twin brother, Samson Carlisle, Duke of Durham. Samson knows of his sibling's penchant for perfidy and he graciously offers to help the exquisite Olivia locate the missing rogue and recover her stolen fortune.
But Olivia fears that accompanying this mysterious, dangerous, eminently desirable man would be courting the most devastating sort of scandal—especially since it is now Samson's arms she aches to feel surrounding her, and his kiss she longs to taste
A lady's heart is a tempting plaything for the Duke of Scandal.
He stands apart from other men—a dark, tall, breathtaking figure of seductive masculinity. With a smile, he can topple the defenses of even the most proper maiden.
And with a single whisper, she will be his.
A wife in name only, Lady Olivia Shea has returned to London in a rage, determined to confront her new husband, who vanished months ago with her inheritance on their wedding night. Yet this hauntingly familiar man who stands before her—this face and form she adores—is not her deceiving Edmund but the blackguard's twin brother, Samson Carlisle, Duke of Durham. Samson knows of his sibling's penchant for perfidy and he graciously offers to help the exquisite Olivia locate the missing rogue and recover her stolen fortune.
But Olivia fears that accompanying this mysterious, dangerous, eminently desirable man would be courting the most devastating sort of scandal—especially since it is now Samson's arms she aches to feel surrounding her, and his kiss she longs to taste
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 25, 2006
16 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Adele Ashworth
10books237followersAdele Budnick was born in 1963. She has always felt she's led a rather dull life on her road to becoming a romance author. Unfortunately, she's also often been wrong.
From the first time she stepped onstage to sing Petula Clark's "Downtown" for a crowd (at the age of three in a Juarez, Mexico, hotel restaurant, dancing on the table at the urging of the Spanish-speaking waitresses), she knew she was destined to be a singer. Her first miscalculation.
At the age of six, as she watched one of the Apollo rockets take off on live Saturday-morning television, interrupting the most important TV shows of the decade—The Monkeys and Scooby-Doo—she decided she would become a diplomat. Much to her mother's chagrin, Adele was caught in a heated discussion with a telephone operator who insisted it simply wasn't possible to put a six-year-old child through to President Nixon at the White House just to make a complaint about important programming interruption. Diplomacy clearly wasn't for her.
In elementary school, Adele, being a voracious reader, decided she would be a defense attorney just like Nancy Drew's father. (One knew at any age that one couldn't make a living simply by being a mystery solver like Nancy, but solving crimes as an attorney seemed practical.) After three years of knowing she was destined for Harvard Law School, Adele finished every published Nancy Drew novel (53 of them at the time) and moved on to reading romance. Thus ended her dreams of solving crimes. The idea of law school seemed far less enjoyable after immersing herself in Victoria Holt at the age of twelve.
The Song Bird Years
Adele continued to pursue her singing into her teen years, deciding she was either going to be an editorial reader for a publishing company (because all she loved to do was read) or a Singing Superstar. She figured becoming a Superstar was probably an easier goal to achieve, and so, between reading romances (and in the late 70s there were very few to read), she practiced her art, training her developing coloratura soprano voice with private lessons from one of the best operatic instructors in the city of Albuquerque. Through numerous All-State Choir rehearsals, Jr. and High School choir practice, and various musical productions, she knew she was destined for stardom.
And then at the age of fifteen, her private vocal instructor told her the cold, hard facts: To really make it as a Broadway Singing Superstar, one not only has to read music well, but be able to act and dance and live on pennies. Adele does not dance (unless you count nightclubs in college and that time in Mexico when she was three�) and the "living on pennies" bit seemed highly questionable. Since her acting and music reading talents were also suspect, she decided Broadway might not be for her. Reality sure can be a shocker.
On the Career Path
In college as a journalism major (only because she had to major in something that might get her a paying job), she continued to pursue private vocal instruction with the University of Utah's finest, while performing in various musicals and college recitals. Having directed her through the lead in Cinderella, her drama teacher urged her to try out for local beauty—ahem—scholarship pageants. That was it. Adele was destined to be a singing, reading, reporting, Miss America.
Unfortunately, reality struck again. Not only was Adele a bit lacking in genius (to put it bluntly), being five feet and two inches tall, and possessing quite possibly the shortest legs in the history of womanhood left Adele doing well in talent portions of the contests, but lacking other…necessary attributes. Aside from being crowned Miss Sandy City and Miss Salt Lake County, the pageant thing never went anywhere. Alas, the Singing Beauty Queen future was out.
But Adele worked very hard at her favorite pastime and, by her senior year in college, she'd read just about every Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Victoria Holt, Shirley Busbee, Laurie McBain,
From the first time she stepped onstage to sing Petula Clark's "Downtown" for a crowd (at the age of three in a Juarez, Mexico, hotel restaurant, dancing on the table at the urging of the Spanish-speaking waitresses), she knew she was destined to be a singer. Her first miscalculation.
At the age of six, as she watched one of the Apollo rockets take off on live Saturday-morning television, interrupting the most important TV shows of the decade—The Monkeys and Scooby-Doo—she decided she would become a diplomat. Much to her mother's chagrin, Adele was caught in a heated discussion with a telephone operator who insisted it simply wasn't possible to put a six-year-old child through to President Nixon at the White House just to make a complaint about important programming interruption. Diplomacy clearly wasn't for her.
In elementary school, Adele, being a voracious reader, decided she would be a defense attorney just like Nancy Drew's father. (One knew at any age that one couldn't make a living simply by being a mystery solver like Nancy, but solving crimes as an attorney seemed practical.) After three years of knowing she was destined for Harvard Law School, Adele finished every published Nancy Drew novel (53 of them at the time) and moved on to reading romance. Thus ended her dreams of solving crimes. The idea of law school seemed far less enjoyable after immersing herself in Victoria Holt at the age of twelve.
The Song Bird Years
Adele continued to pursue her singing into her teen years, deciding she was either going to be an editorial reader for a publishing company (because all she loved to do was read) or a Singing Superstar. She figured becoming a Superstar was probably an easier goal to achieve, and so, between reading romances (and in the late 70s there were very few to read), she practiced her art, training her developing coloratura soprano voice with private lessons from one of the best operatic instructors in the city of Albuquerque. Through numerous All-State Choir rehearsals, Jr. and High School choir practice, and various musical productions, she knew she was destined for stardom.
And then at the age of fifteen, her private vocal instructor told her the cold, hard facts: To really make it as a Broadway Singing Superstar, one not only has to read music well, but be able to act and dance and live on pennies. Adele does not dance (unless you count nightclubs in college and that time in Mexico when she was three�) and the "living on pennies" bit seemed highly questionable. Since her acting and music reading talents were also suspect, she decided Broadway might not be for her. Reality sure can be a shocker.
On the Career Path
In college as a journalism major (only because she had to major in something that might get her a paying job), she continued to pursue private vocal instruction with the University of Utah's finest, while performing in various musicals and college recitals. Having directed her through the lead in Cinderella, her drama teacher urged her to try out for local beauty—ahem—scholarship pageants. That was it. Adele was destined to be a singing, reading, reporting, Miss America.
Unfortunately, reality struck again. Not only was Adele a bit lacking in genius (to put it bluntly), being five feet and two inches tall, and possessing quite possibly the shortest legs in the history of womanhood left Adele doing well in talent portions of the contests, but lacking other…necessary attributes. Aside from being crowned Miss Sandy City and Miss Salt Lake County, the pageant thing never went anywhere. Alas, the Singing Beauty Queen future was out.
But Adele worked very hard at her favorite pastime and, by her senior year in college, she'd read just about every Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Victoria Holt, Shirley Busbee, Laurie McBain,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 25, 2019
En general, bien, aunque se desaprovecha el potencial de una historia que podía haber dado más de sí. Hay actitudes/opiniones respecto a su anterior vida sexual y amorosa por parte del protagonista masculino que no entiendo ni comparto, algunos comportamientos tanto de Samson como de Olivia me parecen demasiado modernos para la época en la que transcurre la historia y la trama principal es bastante flojita. ¿Se nota que el primer libro de la trilogía me gustó más, verdad?
#RitaAdele #RetoRita3
#RitaAdele #RetoRita3
December 25, 2019
2.5 una lectura entretenida sin más. el argumento tenía mucha atención pero me ha faltado más detalles en el pasado tanto en referencia a la relación entre Sam y Edmund como entre Edmund y Olivia. Mucha atracción. No he podido conectar con los que tengo listas una novela cuyo sinopsis prometía mucho más de lo que ofrece y una pena porque realmente la trama es muy interesante.
July 26, 2020
3 Estrellitas. Siguiendo con la trilogía de los Duques de Adele Ashworth, el primero me dejó bastante satisfecha, pero éste no lo ha conseguido tanto. La historia en general ha estado bien, pero le ha faltado algo, sobre todo al final, y no me ha gustado la actitud de la protagonista ni el gran cambio que da al final.
"Un romance escandaloso" nos trae una historia oscura y truculenta, al estilo "Las amistades peligrosas". Lady Olivia Shea es una dama mitad británica mitad francesa, que ha vivido los últimos años en París y se ha hecho cargo del negocio de su padrastro, la casa Nivan, una perfumería de mucho renombre entre las clases nobles. A su vez, Olivia es poseedora de una gran herencia que acaba de desaparecer bajo sus narices. Olivia ha cometido la imprudencia de enamorarse de un desabrido, un libertino, de Edmund Carlisle, con quien acaba de casarse y desaparecer con toda su fortuna antes de la noche de bodas.
Olivia se siente engañada, estafada y planea buscar a Edmund esté donde esté y recuperar su dinero. Su primer impulso es buscarle en Inglaterra, pues Edmund es de allí y no es extraño que haya vuelto tras diez años viviendo en el continente. Así que, cuando Olivia llega a Londres e irrumpe en el primer baile de la temporada, queda totalmente sorprendida de encontrarlo allí. Pero no será a lord Edmund a quien Olivia encuentre, si no a su hermano gemelo, Samson, el duque de Durham.
Samson al ser el mayor y el duque, siempre ha sido el hermano responsable, al que han educado para cumplir con su deber, mientras que Edmund estaba allí como un sucedáneo para darse a la vida del derroche y holgazanería viviendo a costa de otros. Puede que Samson y Edmund sean idénticos, pero sólo lo son en apariencia, en personalidad no tienen nada que ver. Así, no es raro que Olivia confunda en un primer momento a Samson con su hermano.
Cuando nuestros personajes se conocen y Olivia hace partícipe a Samson de lo ocurrido, éste no duda en ningún momento en ayudar a la que podría ser su supuesta cuñada, pues Samson tiene razones para pensar que el matrimonio de Olivia y Edmund es falso. Por un lado, Samson ya fue engañado por una mujer que amaba y su propio hermano ¿Cómo sabe que ésta vez no es una triquiñuela para sacarle dinero a él? De modo que Samson y Olivia vuelven a París para buscar a Edmund, mientras Samson se hará pasar por su propio hermano y urdir una trampa para atraparlo.
A medida que pasan los capítulos, el lector se dará cuenta de la perfidia y el engaño al que Olivia ha sido sometida. Edmund no ha sido la única persona implicada en el engaño a Olivia, si no su propia tía también está metida en el ajo, y lo peor es que nuestros protagonistas se enteran de quién será la próxima víctima en caer bajo las artimañas de Edmund; así que viajarán a Grasse para enfrentarse con él y recuperar el dinero de Olivia.
El libro ha estado bien en cuanto a la historia, pero a la vez me ha faltado algo. Olivia da una imagen de mujer sensata e inteligente y precisamente por ello no casa que se dejara enamorar o engañar por alguien tan podrido como Edmund. El romance entre Samson y Olivia está bastante bien y han tenido buenas escenas. Descubrir parte de los engaños ha hecho que la historia tenga mucha chicha y enganche bastante, pero el final me ha dejado un poco asqueada, no me ha gustado la escena de la discusión de Olivia y Samson cuando este le cuenta sus secretos y la actitud que ha tenido ella, como el propio final, me ha faltado algo porque de repente ella cambia y no sabes cuándo ni por qué, me ha faltado algún capítulo que explique el cambio de Olivia, éste ha sido muy repentino y superficial.
Aún así no ha estado mal del todo y creo que no tardaré en leer el tercer y último libro de la serie, Colin me ha dejado bastante intrigada.
"Un romance escandaloso" nos trae una historia oscura y truculenta, al estilo "Las amistades peligrosas". Lady Olivia Shea es una dama mitad británica mitad francesa, que ha vivido los últimos años en París y se ha hecho cargo del negocio de su padrastro, la casa Nivan, una perfumería de mucho renombre entre las clases nobles. A su vez, Olivia es poseedora de una gran herencia que acaba de desaparecer bajo sus narices. Olivia ha cometido la imprudencia de enamorarse de un desabrido, un libertino, de Edmund Carlisle, con quien acaba de casarse y desaparecer con toda su fortuna antes de la noche de bodas.
Olivia se siente engañada, estafada y planea buscar a Edmund esté donde esté y recuperar su dinero. Su primer impulso es buscarle en Inglaterra, pues Edmund es de allí y no es extraño que haya vuelto tras diez años viviendo en el continente. Así que, cuando Olivia llega a Londres e irrumpe en el primer baile de la temporada, queda totalmente sorprendida de encontrarlo allí. Pero no será a lord Edmund a quien Olivia encuentre, si no a su hermano gemelo, Samson, el duque de Durham.
Samson al ser el mayor y el duque, siempre ha sido el hermano responsable, al que han educado para cumplir con su deber, mientras que Edmund estaba allí como un sucedáneo para darse a la vida del derroche y holgazanería viviendo a costa de otros. Puede que Samson y Edmund sean idénticos, pero sólo lo son en apariencia, en personalidad no tienen nada que ver. Así, no es raro que Olivia confunda en un primer momento a Samson con su hermano.
Cuando nuestros personajes se conocen y Olivia hace partícipe a Samson de lo ocurrido, éste no duda en ningún momento en ayudar a la que podría ser su supuesta cuñada, pues Samson tiene razones para pensar que el matrimonio de Olivia y Edmund es falso. Por un lado, Samson ya fue engañado por una mujer que amaba y su propio hermano ¿Cómo sabe que ésta vez no es una triquiñuela para sacarle dinero a él? De modo que Samson y Olivia vuelven a París para buscar a Edmund, mientras Samson se hará pasar por su propio hermano y urdir una trampa para atraparlo.
A medida que pasan los capítulos, el lector se dará cuenta de la perfidia y el engaño al que Olivia ha sido sometida. Edmund no ha sido la única persona implicada en el engaño a Olivia, si no su propia tía también está metida en el ajo, y lo peor es que nuestros protagonistas se enteran de quién será la próxima víctima en caer bajo las artimañas de Edmund; así que viajarán a Grasse para enfrentarse con él y recuperar el dinero de Olivia.
El libro ha estado bien en cuanto a la historia, pero a la vez me ha faltado algo. Olivia da una imagen de mujer sensata e inteligente y precisamente por ello no casa que se dejara enamorar o engañar por alguien tan podrido como Edmund. El romance entre Samson y Olivia está bastante bien y han tenido buenas escenas. Descubrir parte de los engaños ha hecho que la historia tenga mucha chicha y enganche bastante, pero el final me ha dejado un poco asqueada, no me ha gustado la escena de la discusión de Olivia y Samson cuando este le cuenta sus secretos y la actitud que ha tenido ella, como el propio final, me ha faltado algo porque de repente ella cambia y no sabes cuándo ni por qué, me ha faltado algún capítulo que explique el cambio de Olivia, éste ha sido muy repentino y superficial.
Aún así no ha estado mal del todo y creo que no tardaré en leer el tercer y último libro de la serie, Colin me ha dejado bastante intrigada.
August 25, 2019
3,5 estrellas
Me ha gustado; es una trama relativamente sencilla y románticamente entretenida.
Me ha gustado; es una trama relativamente sencilla y románticamente entretenida.
March 23, 2019
2.5 stars
October 2, 2014
This writer has been receiving positive reviews, possibly because her English is grammatical and her 21st c. cardboard characters do not sound like petulant school children. We've reached the point where someone who does not sound like a mouthy 12 year old impresses us to gushing point. I don't have much to say about the book other than it is instantly forgettable, the plot is very weak (like her other Duke book I've read), and t I couldn't be asked to go back to it at the end of the day. Needless to add, it is your usual ahistorical, anachronistic boring crap, filled with call-me-Sam dukes, daughters of earls running perfumeries in Paris, kissing while waltzing in busy ball rooms; complete with the language of 'I will throw you out on your noble ass' and awful, annoying cliches about the French -Ashworth cannot get anything right about the English aristocracy and you expect her to get something right about the French?). It is not entertaining, it does not facilitate (the already more than facile) access to the era (for there is no era to access) and only proves that lazy writers and lazy publishers reign supreme. Another name crossed out.
August 13, 2017
First let me preface this by stating what kind of books I like and don't like. I love the old Bodice rippers that had real history (they're called historical romances for a reason). Forced seduction doesn't bother me and I like powerful, arrogant heroes and smart, powerful heroines. I loathe today's romances! They are just churned out, one after another, with very little substance or history and of course are all politically correct (Contrary to past history) Today's authors feel that they can call it a historical romance by basically throwing in some period words and clothes. Substance and enthralling writing is sadly lacking.
Though this book was far from a bodice ripper, I absolutely loved it and gave it 5 stars, which is very rare for me. First the plot was original, (another sadly lacking thing in today’s books). Possible spoilers�.. The heroine got married to a man that basically used her and tried to steal her money. She gets angry and seeks him out only to mistake his twin brother for her loser husband. They pair together to find him. Add in an ex-lover , conspirator, some perfume and a great ending. This book held my interest the entire time, I didn’t skip pages, it didn’t feel like it bogged down and the heroine acted exactly like a real person would! The story wasn’t based on misunderstands and arguments and the romance was sweet. There were a few sex scenes but they were somewhat tame and tastefully written.
I am going to add her to one of my favorite authors list!!
Though this book was far from a bodice ripper, I absolutely loved it and gave it 5 stars, which is very rare for me. First the plot was original, (another sadly lacking thing in today’s books). Possible spoilers�.. The heroine got married to a man that basically used her and tried to steal her money. She gets angry and seeks him out only to mistake his twin brother for her loser husband. They pair together to find him. Add in an ex-lover , conspirator, some perfume and a great ending. This book held my interest the entire time, I didn’t skip pages, it didn’t feel like it bogged down and the heroine acted exactly like a real person would! The story wasn’t based on misunderstands and arguments and the romance was sweet. There were a few sex scenes but they were somewhat tame and tastefully written.
I am going to add her to one of my favorite authors list!!
August 15, 2019
Porque además de no gustarme tiene detalles que me cabrean. 80% de cómo ella lo pone palote todo el tiempo y de cómo él le pone las enaguas on fire a ella. Y a mí me ponen los ojos on fire los dos. Me cabrea esa manera de desviarse de la trama principal CONSTANTEMENTE, inclusive en momentos que prima la importancia de la situación, hacia otra vez cómo se calientan entre ellos, por si no te había quedado claro lo mucho que se atraen. ¿De verdad que a Ashworth le parece romántico o una declaración de amor: "No supe lo que era amar hasta que sentí la necesidad de estar dentro de ti. Jamás he conocido a una mujer como tú, y quiero compartir contigo todo lo que soy y derramar mi semilla en tu interior."? Súper romántico (ironía ON).
Y sobre todo me cabrea que Samsón fuerce a su voluntad a Olivia, por mucho que ella acceda luego. (Esto quizás esté sacado de contexto o yo lo haya interpretado mal, dado que he estado leyendo en diagonal, saltando párrafos y capítulos) (┛ಠД�)┛彡┻━�
Estoy indignadísima, me voy a por Ligeramente Peligroso y que mi amado Wulfric me quite el enfado.
Y sobre todo me cabrea que Samsón fuerce a su voluntad a Olivia, por mucho que ella acceda luego. (Esto quizás esté sacado de contexto o yo lo haya interpretado mal, dado que he estado leyendo en diagonal, saltando párrafos y capítulos) (┛ಠД�)┛彡┻━�
Estoy indignadísima, me voy a por Ligeramente Peligroso y que mi amado Wulfric me quite el enfado.
January 9, 2023
My only complaint is the ending. It could’ve resolved immediately.
August 23, 2011
Picture this: sexy, stud duke that stares at you like you're the only thing he sees; he's got that hungry look in his eyes that makes you quiver to the tips of your toes and hidden girly-bits *grin*. Now imagine when he's got a twin!
Story goes... Sam Carlisle finds himself accosted/threatened/matched-up/confronted by Lady Olivia, who claims him to be her runaway, stealing, stupid, cheating, good-for-nothing-not-even-on-bed, absentee husband (yeah, I hate the guy!)...Sam defends himself and finds he couldn't let things go just like that, especially since he's GFN brother involved such a sweet-smelling lady. His honor prompts him to help her...and help comes in a package of sweet pretend! Pretending to be Olivia's husband while tracking down people involved and the bastard himself...
Personally...this was my favorite, favorite, favorite story among the three books in the series! I would love someone like Sam Carlisle and Olivia being the innocent that she was is perfect for him. This was the first of the few books I know who have a perfect well-felt chemistry between the characters.
Story goes... Sam Carlisle finds himself accosted/threatened/matched-up/confronted by Lady Olivia, who claims him to be her runaway, stealing, stupid, cheating, good-for-nothing-not-even-on-bed, absentee husband (yeah, I hate the guy!)...Sam defends himself and finds he couldn't let things go just like that, especially since he's GFN brother involved such a sweet-smelling lady. His honor prompts him to help her...and help comes in a package of sweet pretend! Pretending to be Olivia's husband while tracking down people involved and the bastard himself...
Personally...this was my favorite, favorite, favorite story among the three books in the series! I would love someone like Sam Carlisle and Olivia being the innocent that she was is perfect for him. This was the first of the few books I know who have a perfect well-felt chemistry between the characters.
February 28, 2015
Esperaba como un poquitin de más drama... pareciera que todo se resolvió demasiado rápido.
July 28, 2011
definitely a page turner!!!
September 7, 2018
This was sooooooo close to being perfect, but the hero had to go and screw that up in the end. lol Other than that, it was fantastic.
I so enjoyed Duke of Scandal. So much so...I literally stayed up all night to finish it. I don't even know where the time went, but before I knew it I had to get ready for work. It was worth it! I loved the way Olivia and Sam's relationship changes from allies to lovers. It was a slow burn that really took over before either one of them knew what had happened.
I loved Olivia's passionate nature. She was passionate about reclaiming what was taken from her, passionate about her company. Sam points out her naivete once or twice, but I really think that's a bad assumption of her. I think she just wears her heart on her sleeve and assumes the best of every one. At first, I found it hard to believe she was so foolish to fall for Edmund, but it truly was a stupid mistake. Her mistake being that her trust was too easily given to a man like Edmund who unfortunately abused it. I felt Olivia was tough when she needed to be, yet fragile when forces around her seemed to be too much. She was very resilient and I found her to be extremely realistic.
I had some problems with Sam. lol They are kind of spoiler-ish so I saved them for the end. Even so, I LOVED watching his journey from cold and distant to passionate and wildly in love. The way he was so distrusting at first was somewhat sensible yet the extent of his mistrust was mysterious. There was just nothing about him that could find any sort of peace. You felt bad for him and the agony he was going through even you really didn't understand it until the end of book. Yet after he fell in love with Olivia he fell 100 percent. It was just all consuming for him and so magical to read about. He was such a strong, stoic, arrogant character so to see him fall in love with so breathtaking.
This may be a spoiler...but I think it's important to point out...their attraction was mutual and acknowledged by both throughout. Yet when it came down to the moment, this was a forced seduction. I think overall the way Ashworth handled made it really acceptable if that's even possible. lol Sam's point of view just left me breathless. It was extremely passionate and sexy. His reasons the way it proceeded the way it did are somewhat romantic, but in this day in age I can see how it would be problematic or difficult to read.
There really aren't words to describe how much I love Ashworth's prose. It is so elegant and extremely seductive. There is such an emotional pull to the way she describes everything her characters are going through. I feel so much more attached to these characters after reading Ashworth's description of how they process everything going on around them. The way she describes a first kiss, a moment of fear, a moment of joy...you go through it too. It's just a priceless experience as a reader which makes it such an absolute delight to read.
My problems with the book are spoiler-ish concerning the ending so here goes:
I so enjoyed Duke of Scandal. So much so...I literally stayed up all night to finish it. I don't even know where the time went, but before I knew it I had to get ready for work. It was worth it! I loved the way Olivia and Sam's relationship changes from allies to lovers. It was a slow burn that really took over before either one of them knew what had happened.
I loved Olivia's passionate nature. She was passionate about reclaiming what was taken from her, passionate about her company. Sam points out her naivete once or twice, but I really think that's a bad assumption of her. I think she just wears her heart on her sleeve and assumes the best of every one. At first, I found it hard to believe she was so foolish to fall for Edmund, but it truly was a stupid mistake. Her mistake being that her trust was too easily given to a man like Edmund who unfortunately abused it. I felt Olivia was tough when she needed to be, yet fragile when forces around her seemed to be too much. She was very resilient and I found her to be extremely realistic.
I had some problems with Sam. lol They are kind of spoiler-ish so I saved them for the end. Even so, I LOVED watching his journey from cold and distant to passionate and wildly in love. The way he was so distrusting at first was somewhat sensible yet the extent of his mistrust was mysterious. There was just nothing about him that could find any sort of peace. You felt bad for him and the agony he was going through even you really didn't understand it until the end of book. Yet after he fell in love with Olivia he fell 100 percent. It was just all consuming for him and so magical to read about. He was such a strong, stoic, arrogant character so to see him fall in love with so breathtaking.
This may be a spoiler...but I think it's important to point out...their attraction was mutual and acknowledged by both throughout. Yet when it came down to the moment, this was a forced seduction. I think overall the way Ashworth handled made it really acceptable if that's even possible. lol Sam's point of view just left me breathless. It was extremely passionate and sexy. His reasons the way it proceeded the way it did are somewhat romantic, but in this day in age I can see how it would be problematic or difficult to read.
There really aren't words to describe how much I love Ashworth's prose. It is so elegant and extremely seductive. There is such an emotional pull to the way she describes everything her characters are going through. I feel so much more attached to these characters after reading Ashworth's description of how they process everything going on around them. The way she describes a first kiss, a moment of fear, a moment of joy...you go through it too. It's just a priceless experience as a reader which makes it such an absolute delight to read.
My problems with the book are spoiler-ish concerning the ending so here goes:
March 17, 2019
3 stelline meno meno
Ammetto che mi ero completata scordata di aver letto (e non apprezzato) il primo volume di questa serie: già il duca del peccato mi aveva lasciata tiepida e questo secondo volume non rialza il mio giudizio...
Se potessi essere maligna, mi verrebbe da dire che dal Texas (terra d'origine della nostra Ashworth) si ha una visione abbastanza risibile del 1860 in Francia....
In ogni caso, ciò che mi ha convinto di meno è proprio la protagonista: la si vorrebbe dipingere come una scaltra imprenditrice francese che sa come barcamenarsi nel mondo (non per nulla la ditta di profumi è stata lasciata a lei e non alla cicalona zia Claudette...). In realtà sin da subito la stessa appare come un'ingenuotta, presa in giro di continuo (da entrambi i gemelli), che proprio non sa nulla di ciò che le accade intorno e che ha delegato il negozio/ditta a un uomo di fiducia (ma anche no),
Ma non ci crede nessuno che lei confonda i due gemelli, nè al piano che viene ordito per salvarla...
Diciamo che il libro vorrebbe essere un crescendo di colpi di scena, dove ciascuno gareggia per spararla più grossa... tuttavia, alla fine, l'autrice si è così spinta oltre per scandalizzare il lettore che non sa come uscirne.
Dico la verità: l'ultima parte è una delle parti finali più ridicole che abbia letto, con il protagonista che non sa come uscirne e la protagonista che va a salvarlo, costretta dall'autrice.
Manca un terzo duca e un terzo libro, ma direi anche no, se non fosse che Colin risulterebbe essere il più sveglio e promettente del terzetto. Vedremo...
Ammetto che mi ero completata scordata di aver letto (e non apprezzato) il primo volume di questa serie: già il duca del peccato mi aveva lasciata tiepida e questo secondo volume non rialza il mio giudizio...
Se potessi essere maligna, mi verrebbe da dire che dal Texas (terra d'origine della nostra Ashworth) si ha una visione abbastanza risibile del 1860 in Francia....
In ogni caso, ciò che mi ha convinto di meno è proprio la protagonista: la si vorrebbe dipingere come una scaltra imprenditrice francese che sa come barcamenarsi nel mondo (non per nulla la ditta di profumi è stata lasciata a lei e non alla cicalona zia Claudette...). In realtà sin da subito la stessa appare come un'ingenuotta, presa in giro di continuo (da entrambi i gemelli), che proprio non sa nulla di ciò che le accade intorno e che ha delegato il negozio/ditta a un uomo di fiducia (ma anche no),
Ma non ci crede nessuno che lei confonda i due gemelli, nè al piano che viene ordito per salvarla...
Diciamo che il libro vorrebbe essere un crescendo di colpi di scena, dove ciascuno gareggia per spararla più grossa... tuttavia, alla fine, l'autrice si è così spinta oltre per scandalizzare il lettore che non sa come uscirne.
Dico la verità: l'ultima parte è una delle parti finali più ridicole che abbia letto, con il protagonista che non sa come uscirne e la protagonista che va a salvarlo, costretta dall'autrice.
Manca un terzo duca e un terzo libro, ma direi anche no, se non fosse che Colin risulterebbe essere il più sveglio e promettente del terzetto. Vedremo...
July 18, 2019
Nos encontramos ante la segunda historia de la trilogía "Duque" y si la primera me gusto esta segunda entrega me ha encantado. Por un lado tenemos a Samson Carlisle un hombre que anda en los treinta tantos que esconde muchos secretos, un hombre solitario que pasa sus días sin mayor novedad, que tiene un pasado comprometedor que impone su autoridad donde aparece, con un atractivo que solo un hombre de su porte puede manejar.
Por el otro lado tenemos a Olivia Oshea una mujer con una belleza arrasadora, que tiene los pies en la tierra, con impulso y cerebro para manejar una de las casas de perfumería mas notables y prosperas de todo París, pero como cualquier mujer pierde la cabeza cuando encuentra el amor en Edmund lo que la llevara a una de las más grandes desdichas que pasara, pero que su fuerza de voluntad la hará salir adelante.
La química que vemos entre estos dos personas de inmediato es fuerte y como siempre ella tratando de evitarlos, pero ante los encantos de un hombre como Sam es muy difícil que soporte mucho tiempo.
Una novela muy entretenida que reúne todos sus elementos de manera clara y en los momentos y tiempos adecuados, contando con la ayuda de esos personajes secundarios que le ponen el piquete a la historia. Lo único que le reprocharía a esta novela, sería su final, lo sentí muy simple, creo pudo sacarle más a ese final.
Por el otro lado tenemos a Olivia Oshea una mujer con una belleza arrasadora, que tiene los pies en la tierra, con impulso y cerebro para manejar una de las casas de perfumería mas notables y prosperas de todo París, pero como cualquier mujer pierde la cabeza cuando encuentra el amor en Edmund lo que la llevara a una de las más grandes desdichas que pasara, pero que su fuerza de voluntad la hará salir adelante.
La química que vemos entre estos dos personas de inmediato es fuerte y como siempre ella tratando de evitarlos, pero ante los encantos de un hombre como Sam es muy difícil que soporte mucho tiempo.
Una novela muy entretenida que reúne todos sus elementos de manera clara y en los momentos y tiempos adecuados, contando con la ayuda de esos personajes secundarios que le ponen el piquete a la historia. Lo único que le reprocharía a esta novela, sería su final, lo sentí muy simple, creo pudo sacarle más a ese final.
November 8, 2021
Este libro me atraía mucho porque el protagonista es de estos serios y reservados. Me gusta este tipo de hombres mucho más que los que se presentan como hombres simpáticos, agradables, sociables y extrovertidos.
La historia, en general me ha gustado bastante por el juego de los hermanos gemelos, fingir que un hermano es otro para descubrir el engaño, etc. Olivia y Sam están bien presentados y creo que la relación que se va desarrollando resulta bastante natural. No me gusta como te muestran que a Sam le aburre soberanamente todo lo que implica el trabajo de Olivia (me ha parecido un poco feo por parte de él no mostrar al menos cierta admiración por la capacidad de Olivia para enfrentarse a un negocio, disfrutarlo y además ser buena en ello).
En cuanto al desarrollo de la trama me ha resultado algo retorcido a veces y creo que no se ha explotado todo lo que se podría la aparición de Sam haciéndose pasar por su hermano.
El descubrimiento del pasado de Sam creo que también está mal tratado. Todo se descubre al final y, además, muestran a un Sam bastante “feo�. Me quedé bastante sorprendida por lo que se descubre, por las decisiones de Sam y por lo que se supone que pensaba. Entiendo que son hombres del siglo XIX pero aún así me sorprendió su insensibilidad.
He disfrutado de la lectura, aunque creo que el final decayó bastante.
La historia, en general me ha gustado bastante por el juego de los hermanos gemelos, fingir que un hermano es otro para descubrir el engaño, etc. Olivia y Sam están bien presentados y creo que la relación que se va desarrollando resulta bastante natural. No me gusta como te muestran que a Sam le aburre soberanamente todo lo que implica el trabajo de Olivia (me ha parecido un poco feo por parte de él no mostrar al menos cierta admiración por la capacidad de Olivia para enfrentarse a un negocio, disfrutarlo y además ser buena en ello).
En cuanto al desarrollo de la trama me ha resultado algo retorcido a veces y creo que no se ha explotado todo lo que se podría la aparición de Sam haciéndose pasar por su hermano.
El descubrimiento del pasado de Sam creo que también está mal tratado. Todo se descubre al final y, además, muestran a un Sam bastante “feo�. Me quedé bastante sorprendida por lo que se descubre, por las decisiones de Sam y por lo que se supone que pensaba. Entiendo que son hombres del siglo XIX pero aún así me sorprendió su insensibilidad.
He disfrutado de la lectura, aunque creo que el final decayó bastante.
September 22, 2017
Maybe 3.5? Ms. Ashworth seems to be a good storyteller but the writing and word choice is sometimes awkward. The explanation of "the scandal" seemed out of character with the rest of the book.
The hero has good and bad points. On the plus side, he is intensely focused on the heroine. On the bad side . . . well, I sometimes decry the trend to explain all the character's seeming deficiencies so he can be acceptable to readers, because this results in a lot of vanilla heroes. However, this hero is a bit of an "I'm just going to keep going because I know she really wants it" kind of guy and that is hard to take.
The hero has good and bad points. On the plus side, he is intensely focused on the heroine. On the bad side . . . well, I sometimes decry the trend to explain all the character's seeming deficiencies so he can be acceptable to readers, because this results in a lot of vanilla heroes. However, this hero is a bit of an "I'm just going to keep going because I know she really wants it" kind of guy and that is hard to take.
December 25, 2020
A sido para mi desgracia un libro que a medida que lo iba leyendo mas mi opinión hacia este bajaba. Quitando comentarios machista de esas época que era propio en la sociedad. He leído varios libros de epoca y siempre he conseguido tolerar esa mente machista de la época, porque los personajes me empatisaban pero este libro no lo a conseguido y eso hacia que resaltara más esos prejucios de la época. Lo único bueno que resaltaria era la trama principal aunque decepciona con el final que le dan a esta
December 9, 2017
Wonderful
I finally was able to now finish the Duke trilogy series. I enjoyed the back and forth of this story, because it was so believable. Of course for me, it did not have enough sex. Otherwise, great story.
I finally was able to now finish the Duke trilogy series. I enjoyed the back and forth of this story, because it was so believable. Of course for me, it did not have enough sex. Otherwise, great story.
June 22, 2019
Great beginning, first half wonderful, then snowballs into the grand finale. The plot is twisty and unexpected. Better than usual romance.
March 25, 2024
I was intrigued by the bananas plot but sadly it didn’t hold my interest
March 7, 2017
This was a fun book! I enjoyed the characters and found the story compelling from start to finish. Exactly the kind of Regency novel I most enjoy.
May 12, 2011
On the trail of her scheming husband, a wife discovers his twin is anything but identical.
A businesswoman bilked by her new husband teams up with his identical twin to get back her fortune. Lady Olivia Shea soon sees that her brother-in-law, Samson Carlisle, may look like her husband Edmund, but the two are nothing alike, and Samson is the better man. Samson is also smitten with Olivia, at once jealous that his brother made such a catch and suspicious that she is part of a plot to steal from him.
The chemistry between the two characters is well-defined, and the mystery is fairly well plotted. Early on, author Adele Ashworth shares the secrets of the perfume industry the plot revolves around, and the various basic scents, but she never really develops that. Her writing is very descriptive, sometimes ploddingly so, and some overly long, convoluted sentences are occasionally hard to follow. The resolution is quite literally tacked on, when it seems there's no hope for Sam and Olivia to live happily ever after.
Equally disappointing, the 'scandal' of the title is not revealed until the very end, and while we're told about its consequences, we never really see them. It was hardly worth the emphasis of mentioning it in the title. Also, perhaps a minor point, but whoever approved the cover art should have taken a closer look at the 'newsprint' ? which refers to Saddam Hussein and Iraq.
In short, 'Duke of Scandal' is a pleasant enough read, but it had the potential to be so much better.
A businesswoman bilked by her new husband teams up with his identical twin to get back her fortune. Lady Olivia Shea soon sees that her brother-in-law, Samson Carlisle, may look like her husband Edmund, but the two are nothing alike, and Samson is the better man. Samson is also smitten with Olivia, at once jealous that his brother made such a catch and suspicious that she is part of a plot to steal from him.
The chemistry between the two characters is well-defined, and the mystery is fairly well plotted. Early on, author Adele Ashworth shares the secrets of the perfume industry the plot revolves around, and the various basic scents, but she never really develops that. Her writing is very descriptive, sometimes ploddingly so, and some overly long, convoluted sentences are occasionally hard to follow. The resolution is quite literally tacked on, when it seems there's no hope for Sam and Olivia to live happily ever after.
Equally disappointing, the 'scandal' of the title is not revealed until the very end, and while we're told about its consequences, we never really see them. It was hardly worth the emphasis of mentioning it in the title. Also, perhaps a minor point, but whoever approved the cover art should have taken a closer look at the 'newsprint' ? which refers to Saddam Hussein and Iraq.
In short, 'Duke of Scandal' is a pleasant enough read, but it had the potential to be so much better.
May 20, 2020
This one had great potential but just didn't come together as I had hoped. The story opens with Lady Olivia's awareness that her new husband, Edmund, has abandoned her absconding with a good portion of her fortune on her wedding night. Lady Olivia is a very successful business woman running her late stepfather's Parisian perfumery. Not one to stand by idly while Edmund gets away with his nefarious deeds, Lady O travels to London where she assumes she will find Edmund. Instead, she finds his identical twin brother Samson - the Duke. I could have worked with this so far. Unfortunately, there are some real problems with the details. First, Lady O is a mature resourceful woman who manages to fall in love and marry a scoundrel in a very short time frame. This seems totally out of character. Second, Sam, our hero, has basically withdrawn from society for the past 10 years after society mistakenly identifies Sam as the brother who engaged in kinky sexual hijinks. Seriously, a Duke who is shamed from society for engaging in kinky sex. I kind of thought that was a perk of being a duke. Third, after coming across as a really decent fellow, it turns out Sam's behavior 10 years earlier was less than heroic. He willingly engaged in a long standing affair with a married woman - Lady O's step aunt no less. When she turns up pregnant, Sam behaves in a way that is nothing short of villainous.
May 5, 2012
A rhythmic, lively and tender novel that once the last page is closed the reader is beaming with a huge smile on its face.
An olfactory and exotic voyage in the 19th century where the reader is shipped from London to Paris via Grasse (Southern France) in the company of Lady Olivia in search of her husband. A vicious villain, only interested in his wife's heritage, who humiliated her by deserting her on their wedding night.
Heartbreaking betrayals, implausible plots and hearts that break under the cruelty of incredible revelations that run through this novel. The reader is not bored by following the footsteps of Olivia especially when she crosses the path of Samson.
If she's smart, touching and naive, he is arrogant, possessive and controlling. He gives you goose bumps with its authoritarian character and the distance he puts between himself and others to avoid being betrayed again.
Characters splendidly portrays for a romance full of exciting moments ...
Lucie
An olfactory and exotic voyage in the 19th century where the reader is shipped from London to Paris via Grasse (Southern France) in the company of Lady Olivia in search of her husband. A vicious villain, only interested in his wife's heritage, who humiliated her by deserting her on their wedding night.
Heartbreaking betrayals, implausible plots and hearts that break under the cruelty of incredible revelations that run through this novel. The reader is not bored by following the footsteps of Olivia especially when she crosses the path of Samson.
If she's smart, touching and naive, he is arrogant, possessive and controlling. He gives you goose bumps with its authoritarian character and the distance he puts between himself and others to avoid being betrayed again.
Characters splendidly portrays for a romance full of exciting moments ...
Lucie
December 10, 2012
The scandalously handsome Samson Carlisle is not the deceiving nobleman Lady Olivia was searching for... but he's the lover she fervently desires.
I normally enjoy Adele Ashworth's books, and this one is not necessarily bad, but it is far from her best story. It is just a bit too busy.
There is the problem of Olivia not recognizing the differences between her husband Edmund and his identical twin Samson.
There is the problem of Samson's acceptance of his ruined reputation for something in which he was not involved.
There is the way Olivia turns against Samson and then miraculously forgives him.
There is a problem with Samson coming off more as a Beta male than an Alpha male.
I normally enjoy Adele Ashworth's books, and this one is not necessarily bad, but it is far from her best story. It is just a bit too busy.
There is the problem of Olivia not recognizing the differences between her husband Edmund and his identical twin Samson.
There is the problem of Samson's acceptance of his ruined reputation for something in which he was not involved.
There is the way Olivia turns against Samson and then miraculously forgives him.
There is a problem with Samson coming off more as a Beta male than an Alpha male.
February 27, 2021
An interesting heroine, a perfumer in France, is left by her husband on their wedding night. She goes to England in search of him and mistakes his twin brother for her husband. This is the setup for Samson, a Duke we met in the previous book. There is quite a convoluted plot, and we find all is not as it seems. At the next to the last chapter we learn the scandal, and it is pretty horrible, and the reason the twins have not seen each other in 10 years. Ashworth does write some very original stories, and now I will read the third in the trilogy.
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