To Sin with a Scoundrel

To Sin With a Scoundrel, OH MY!

The wastrel of the ton, Lord Hadley is after one escapade or another, never failing to find his name splashed across the gossip pages for all of London to see. Not that he cares, it's all good fun, but he fears his latest escapade may not only embarrass himself, but Lord Henry, his long enduring guardian as well and his health isn't what it used to be and after he promised Henry a visit as well. It's time for him to cut short his carousing and see to the needs of Lord Henry, he asks so little of the man he raised from a boy.

Lady Sheffield is herself splashed across the gossip columns as well, but for a different reason altogether. Her husband who drank himself to death and his wicked family are to blame, spreading rumors of pure poison as to the truth of Lord Sheffield's death. She has been portrayed as the Wicked Widow, Witch of Pont Street. Her only desire is to be left alone to raise her son, but the Battershams are trying to prove her unfit for motherhood, seeking custody of the young Perry, not out of love, but in a mad dash to grab with his title, land, and money. Greed is the only love of her mother-in-law and Cousin Arthur.

When Lord Henry begs Hadley to seek out Lady Sheffield to inquire about her expertise in regard to a secret code and scientific matter that he discovered in an old manuscript, it brings a scowl to his face. The last thing Bad, Mad, Had-ley needed was to seek out the company of the Wicked Widow, but upon making her acquaintance, he can't image anyone further from his imaginings than the Lady herself. But, without help, Polite Society and the Battershams will surely bring the downfall of Lady Sheffield, and Lord Hadley is requested to provide assistance, but will his help ensure her safety and will he, the raffish rake, be able to escape his Lady's charms?

To Sin With A Scoundrel by Cara Elliott was a quick fun read for all lovers of historical romance. I was enthralled by Ciara and Lucas' story, richly told by Ms. Elliott. Ciara Sheffield has received the short end of the stick time and time again, first with her unfeeling family, then her abusive husband. She has learned to keep to herself and her small circle of friends. Society has shunned her as rumors of her husband death plague her. Lucas Hadley is the wolfish rake with only one desire, to satisfy his carnal needs, but is his mischievous deeds hiding a deeper secret? He has had struggling childhood bereaved of parents though with the love of his Uncle Henry, but the young man discovered it was easier to be a hellion than ridiculed. His destructive behavior harms no one but himself or so he thought. When Lucas and Ciara come together, it's as if a perfect match as been made, each having something that the other needs.

To Sin With A Scoundrel is a perfect read for a historical romance. It has a perfect blend of seduction, eroticism, adventure, and action. The characters are well developed and engaging, making the reader want to know more about them. I fell a little in love with each of them and hoped that the dastardly Battershams received their deserved due. The next book in the series, To Surrender To A Rogue, tells Lord James Jacquehart "Black Jack" Pierson and Marchesa Alessandra della Giamatti story, whom we've been introduced to through Lucas and Ciara's story. I'm already intrigue to Alessa's mysterious background and to her impish daughter, Isabella, she has already won my heart with her deeds with the young Perry. As reader

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

a delightful historical romance

TO SIN WITH A SCOUNDREL BY CARA ELLIOTT is a delightful historical romance.The story is well written with detail and depth. The characters are wonderful, witty, full of surprises. The secondary characters are just as witty and full of surprises, they help to carry the story along. They will pull you into the story. This story has scientific experiments,romance, suspense, sensuality, wit,gossip and a wonderful love story in progress. You can't help but love the characters and the story. This is the first in the Circle of Sin series and I can hardly wait for the second in the series. This is a must have series. If you enjoy history and romance you will enjoy this one.

Reviewed by: AAR
Rating: 4.5

*This book was received for review.*
www.mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Scandalously Delightful

Author Cara Elliott is a graduate of Yale University and now works in New York at a lifestyle sports magazine when she's not penning historical romances. Her job allows her to travel, her favorite spot being London, where she enjoys used book stores and antique markets. Other titles include: To Surrender To A Rogue and To Tempt A Rake-- both coming later this year for this Circle of Sin series.

Lady Ciara Sheffield is disturbed by rumors that she poisoned her husband. As a widow, she was best known for her scientific scholarship before the rumors began. Now she needs a titled fiancé to quell the slanderous speculations threatening to send her to the gallows. Except the Earl of Hadley has been sharing the society pages with her. A sly rogue known for his ridiculous antics, Hadley also needs something from Ciara---A mysterious manuscript in his possession that needs deciphering. When they agree on a temporary alliance, the sparks fly. But with danger lurking through the mansions of Mayfair, they may need more than luck and love to see them through.

I found this to be a delightful beginning to what promises to be a wonderful series. This is the first book I've read from this author, and honestly historicals aren't my favorite, but Cara Elliott writes with such elegance and wit that you immediately are drawn in. London as the setting was perfect for this story, and the old world feel leapt from the book. She has a knack for description and body language that makes the reader feel like they are right there in the pages with the characters. The secondary characters were delightful, some downright rueful, but I feel that what really shined was the dialog. The humor and bantering was just hilarious, and the heat between Hadley and Ciara was quite the tease. Nothing better than a misunderstood rakish hero, and a damsel heroine who doesn't want to be rescued, distress or not. These two played off each other phenomenally. The mystery element of whodunit was clever, with enough twists and turns to shake ones head. I very much look forward to the other books in this series, coming in June 2010 and March 2011. Sexy, sassy, and sweet. What's not to love!

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

New author to Regency romance delivers sizzling story

Cara Elliott is the alter ego of Regency favorite, Andrea Pickens. Cara introduces us to a new sensual series, the Circle of Sin, with three bluestocking heroines. They unapologetically live among the Ton on their own terms but find love when they least expect it.

To Sin with a Scoundrel introduces us to Lady Ciara Sheffield, a mother first and scientist second. She finds herself the subject of the gossip rags, accused of poisoning her husband (a nasty bit of baggage, deserving of his fate, but one that Ciara did not deliver). Enter the hero, Lord Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley. His sinful antics earn him the name "Mad, Bad, Had - ley." Lucas proposes to a sham engagement to Ciara so the gossip will die down. In return, she assists his uncle in translating a medieval text - his uncle being the only person who Hadley cares for and the only person who cares for the orphaned Hadley. As they act out their sham engagement, they learn about each other and themselves. At one point in the story, Ciara discovers a secret about Lucas that explains his ne're-do-well attitude. This endears him to Ciara and the reader. In the end, he comes through like a Knight in Shining Armor.

"Love. As if some missing ingredient had suddenly been poured into his brain, the answer to his discontent, his disenchantment with his own aimless life, became blindingly clear. He turned away from the windows and pressed his palms to his eyes.

Love. Lud, what a fool. He should have seen it coming. He should have run like the devil."

Cara Elliott delivers a classic love story with a heartwarming ending.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Facts and Science are no match against love and passion!

Lady Ciara Sheffield has been dubbed the Wicked Witch of Pont Street despite being acquitted of her late abusive husband's death. She was a woman of science who used her intellect and gifts to cure and heal not destroy yet the papers were still feeding lies to the Ton. Her late husband's family was behind this all because they wanted something that Ciara being convicted of murder would provide them - the money from the estate. They were ruthless and would do anything to get their hands on it even if it meant a permanent solution that could end Ciara or her son Peregrine's life.

Ciara had her close, serious scholar friends in her Circle of Scientific Sibyl (SIN) but the help she needed came via an unlikely source from the most nefarious rake in London Mad, Bad Had-ley - Lucas Bingham, The Earl of Hadley. His antics were ground breaking and trouble seemed to follow him around so how could he possibly help Ciara out - simply by becoming romantically involved with her or so everyone would think. The plan was for a "fake" engagement so Ciara had the chance to rebuild her life in London society and Lucas has the chance to redeem himself just enough to be taken seriously all the while trying to figure out what Ciara's in-laws were up to and put a stop to it. But theirs was not a relationship formed in mutual respect, it was a challenge of strength and power with each of them trying to outdo the other and control the variables of the game. While Ciara dealt with the serious and responsible; Lucas dealt with pleasure and fun and each of them was working their talents to a perfect art form all the while trying to prove their worth to each other but mostly to themselves.

Lucas had the love of his uncle who raised him but little else mattered until he met Ciara and realized that there was so much more to life that falling in fountains and chasing a hangover. She needed to be less serious and enjoy life more and he was the man for the job and he definitely stepped up to take control of without ever stopping to think this is what he wanted to do not had to do.

Things don't always add up as uncomplicated mathematical equations but often they do add up to love when you least expect it. Love is funny when you are on opposite sides of the coin but perhaps that is what makes a good match. You have the push, the pull, the tug and the occasional flash of anger but for the most part you have the fire that is built with a quiet, slow consistency that lasts a lifetime and never burns out. Buy this book as soon as possible because it will leave you breathless and bubbly with anticipation for the next one To Surrender To A Rogue.

Mary Gramlich ~ ("The Reading Reviewer") ~ www.marygramlich.com

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Writing was an issue for me...

I read all 3 books in the Circle of Sin series and can say they get better but I thought this was a rough start because the writing was so melodramatic at times that I rrad it aloud to my husband with a groan. Honestly, if we weren't on vacation with limited other reading choices I might have given up. But the concept is fun--smart women scientists--and I am a determined person so I kept going and would give the 2nd book--To Surrender to a Rogue--3 stars and the 3rd--To Tempt a Rogue--maybe 4. I was impressed at how she improved her writing to tell her story better and, in the end, was happy with the series.

Pretty good

I really enjoyed this book nd of course the male lead character Lucas had depth of character that was unveiled through out the story line. Liked immensely the entire book

Bridget's Review

When Lady Ciara's horrible husband dies, she soon finds herself in a bit of a pickle. The town and his family are convinced that Ciara had something to do with his death. In order to gain the approval of her fellow peers, Ciara decides to team up with Lucas who has his own reasons for this union. What starts out as a wedding business arrangement, ends up turning into hot and heavy romance.

I really liked the plot and the build up that the author created. Romance lovers everywhere are sure to fall in love with this book.

The Circle of Sin historical romance is a fun tale

Single mom Lady Ciara Sheffield loves two things: her eight-year-old son, Peregrine and chemistry. The inquest into her husband's sudden death determined Sheffield died of natural causes. However, her in-laws insist he was poisoned by her and the rags initially call her a witch but soon accuse her of scientific homicide. Sheffield's sister and his nephew Arthur Battersham demand a new inquest as they spread the word Ciara used her brilliant chemist's mind as the "Wicked Witch of Pont Street" to kill her spouse.

Since the Battersham duet is big shots, they have a great chance of a second inquiry. Ciara knows why the Battersham want her declared unfit to raise her son so they can have access to his fortune as his guardian and consequently pay off Arthur's humongous gambling debts. Her close friends, the Circle of Scientific Sibyls, also known as the Circle of Sin decide Ciara needs a fiancé with connections to shut everyone up with one aristocratic stare. They choose Lucas "Mad Bad Had-ley" Bingham, who cares about no one except his beloved Uncle Henry Phelps, confined to a wheelchair. Henry has found a manuscript allegedly written by Hippocrates and asks Lucas to visit Ciara to translate it. They cut a deal with her working on the manuscript and he escorting her. As they fall in love, accidents begin to occur too frequently to be accidents.

The Circle of Sin historical romance is a fun tale starring a beleaguered heroine, a rakish antihero, the Scientific Sybils, the wealthy child, the uncle and razor thin villains. The story line is fast-paced though it remains somewhat by the subgenre book in spite of the overall strong cast. Still fans will appreciate Lady Ciara as she challenges her in-laws, the Ton, and love with the incorrigible Mad Bad Had-ley at her side.

Harriet Klausner

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