Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Never Kiss a Rake (Scandal at the House of Russell #1) by Anne Stuart


Historical Romance

Here is what Goodreads says:

"Anguished by death. Driven by revenge.

Bryony Russell and her two sisters are left destitute by the disgrace and unexpected death of their father, a wealthy shipping magnate. He left a cryptic note, and Bryony is determined to find the real villain and clear her father’s name. In disguise as a servant, Bryony infiltrates the home of her father’s business partner to find proof of his guilt…or innocence. It’s not just clues that Bryony finds, but temptation too…

Adrian Bruton, Earl of Kilmartyn, immediately suspects there is something not quite right about his new housekeeper. The brooding, irresistible rake plays along because he has his own guilty secrets, and his venal, scheming wife holds the key to them, trapping him in a hate-filled marriage. But against his will he’s fascinated by Bryony, seeing past the scars on her face to show her the beauty she never knew she had. Bryony must uncover the truth and attempt to preserve her father’s legacy, before things go too far and she falls in love with a man who might very well be her worst enemy."

Backstory:  Three sisters, a father who they think was murdered, stolen money, and three suspects.

Trope:  Pretending to be a servant to gain entrance into a household. 

Plot:  Bryony goes to work for Adrian Bruton, one of the suspects and her Father’s former partner.  He has problems and a secret but not the one she is looking for.  Someone wants him framed and her dead.  Add a wife who is holding a secret over Bryony and hates Adrian.

Writing:  The story moves smoothly and builds to a satisfying conclusion for the first sister.  Not everything is solved in book one.  There are two more suspects and two more sisters so I will be looking for Scandal at the House of Russell # 2 and 3.

Montlake published Never Kiss a Rake by Anne Stuart in 2013.

I received a review copy of Never Kiss a Rake from Amazon Vine.

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