Scandalous Again (Switching Places Series #1)

engaging regency romance

In 1806 Madeline de Lacey returns to England after four years overseas to escape what she perceived was the betrayal of the man she loved, Gabriel Ansell. When Madeline learned Gabriel gambled, something she abhors due to her chronically playing father, she felt her fiancé stabbed her in the back. Now she is back, but learns her dad did it again. He lost the estate and her playing piquet. She is stunned to find out she is the fiancée of Remington Knight. Instead of meeting with Remington, Madeline has to keep her father from joining the game of the century. She pretends to be her companion Eleanor, who she sends to London as her to meet with Remington. At Mr. Rumbelow¿s estate where the game will be held, Madeline runs into Gabriel, who treats her with disdain even though he knows he still loves her and she loves him too, but his gambling remains a wedge between them. This is an engaging regency romance that works on several levels as reader obtain a taste of an era in which women are ¿assets¿ of a man and gambling can ruin a family. The story line is action packed and the tension between the lead couple is taut though why she slept with him after she dropped him four years ago lessens Madeline, a strong protagonist otherwise. Christina Dodd provides an insightful tale that fans will enjoy as it showcases social issues of then and now. Harriet Klausner

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

Christina Dodd produces a historical romance with passion, love, humor and suspense. Her two main characters are well rounded and have personalities that all readers can adore.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Read One Kiss From You First....

I am sorry I read the other one first because Madeline isn't as cool as Eleanor. Madeline granted is spoiled from being rich so her upbringing didn't encourage maturity, but Eleanor is the better person. I liked Gabriel. He seemed to have matured over time more so than Madeline. I think he loved who he preceived her to be and not who she acted like. I had a hard time with her in this book and kept reading hoping to hear more about what was going on with Eleanor through the grapevine. Anyway, just to finish the story about them read both books.

Eh...okay....

Premise of this one sounded like a lot of fun, and the two women had been out of society just long enough to make the deception somewhat believeable. Some fun scenarios ensued, but then it just pretty much lost me. The whole "if you really love me you'll trust me even though I'm letting you leave here for parts unknown with a notorious criminal who may or may not also kill people--plan? What plan? Winging it sounds good" bit even stretched my capacity for suspending belief. It did interest me enough that I'm going to try Eleanor's story, though, and hope for more credibility.

Love the author

I love the book. It is very well written.

Inconsistent

The heroine is both selfish and judgemental. She doesn't confront who she must (her father) and goes around stepping on everybody else. I didn't get why she had to honor her father's debt. She was a heiress to the dukedom in her own right so most of the properties were probably entailed and she was going to get them whether she married or not. The only redeeming features were the hero and the steamy sex scenes.

FINALLY!

I FOUND MYSELF, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, READING MS. DODDS' BOOKS ONLY WHEN I NEEDED A CHANGE FROM THE S. JOHNSONS' AND S. LAURENS' EXPLICIT ROMANCE NOVELS. MS. DODD WAS LOW-KEY IN THE ROMANCE STORIES. GOOD STORY LINES AND USUALLY HUMOROUS BUT LACKING IN INTIMACY BETWEEN HER CHARECTERS. FINALLY!! MS. DODD BRANCHED OUT AND IS WRITING LOVE SCENES BOLD ENOUGH TO SCORCH THE PAPER IS WAS PRINTED ON. SHE IS NOW ON PAR WITH THE AFORE- MENTIONED AUTHORS AND I WAIT EAGERLY FOR HER NEXT BOOK.

GREAT!!!!

I just finished this book and I thought it was great. A little sad at times but hilariously funny. MacAllister was a great character to through in for that extra something.

A must read!

Just read the entire book in three hours - that's how good it was. I just can't wait to read the story about her cousin. Quite funny at times, the way that the two characters bicker.

Better than the governesses!

I loved this story of changing places. Madeline is a very decisive woman, and when she convinces her companion to change places with her, she puts herself into a bad position because her former lover is at the house where she's staying. Gabriel wants her desperately, and he chases her until she gives into her own needs and sleeps with him. The scene where they're trapped in the guest house is the hottest I've ever read. Buy this book!

I LOVED this book!!!

I loved this book!! The two main characters are so equally devoted to each other that it made me smile. It was cute seeing Madeline, a duchess, act as a companion, from burning her employer's dress to not being able to style hair and not being able to keep her mouth shut. The book was so interesting that I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see the 'sequel' to see Eleanor's adventures w/Mr. Knight!!

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