Do You Want to Start a Scandal
Series: Castles Ever After #4
Author: Tessa Dare
Published September 27th 2016 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library. Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan? Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall? Perhaps the butler did it.

All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.

But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit . . . and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.

Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?
Goodreads

Review
I wasn’t really sure what series this book fell into, either Spindle Cove or Castles Ever After, but while bingeing the latter series, I ordered this one to finish them all off. At a house party at the Pankhurst’s estate, Charlotte Highwood is hiding in the library, to avoid being thrust towards the Marquess of Granville, when she comes across the very man snooping around. Her 'reputation' as a fortune hunter is due to her mother's insistence she marry well, and she wants to warn Piers that she is nothing like that. Both don’t want to be caught alone together, so hide, but after another couple’s tryst is made public, with everyone thinking it was Charlotte and Piers, they find themselves engaged and seem to have no way out. Together, they plan to discover just who the couple was in the library, and prove to those assembled that there's no reason for them to marry. But, it seems like Piers isn't wholly into this plan, and seems to relish the idea of marrying Charlotte, especially they longer they work together.

When with first met Piers at the end of  Say Yes to the Marquess, I found him very aloof and secretive, but with his history as a spy working on the continent, I understood why he was that way. In this book, he's very much the same, but his playful side comes out with Charlotte the more and more they are together. He's at the Pankhurst's to check that Mr Pankhurst is an honourable gentlemen, not involved in any schemes as money seems to be going missing, and doesn't want anyone to know about that, but Charlotte quickly sees through it all and wants to help him in any way she can. Charlotte was lovely, and sweet, and wanted to see the good in all, and with Piers, she finds her rebellious side, and I just loved seeing it. Their chemistry was outstanding, and no matter how adamantly Charlotte claimed she didn't want to force Piers to marry her, he was gone from the get go. I think they may be one of my favourite Dare couples, and being able to see a cameo from Brandon, and hear how he and Clio are doing was wonderful. Tessa is definitely on my auto-buy list now!

Dates Read:
June 23, 2020

Rating
4 Stars