Review: A Little Scandal by Patricia (aka Meg) Cabot

Published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks (6 Jan. 2015), £4.29

Quick Description: Steamy regency romance

Perfect for: Anywhere

Steam?: Let’s crank open a window…

Plot: When beautiful Kate Mayhew is hired as chaperone to Marquis of Wingate Burke Traherne’s headstrong daughter Isabel, the Marquis finds himself in an impossible predicament. Torn between the knowledge that she is exactly what Isabel needs but also, for him, the worst possible temptation, he finds himself in constant proximity with someone who threatens his independence.

Known for his steely self-control since the day he caught his wife with a lover, Lord Wingate has vowed never to risk marriage again. In accepting his lordship’s offer of employment, the feisty Kate faces two perils; her wild attraction to a man who has sworn off love, and a date with her own scandalous past…which she cannot keep secret forever.

Meg Cabot inspired me to write romance, so when I discovered that her earlier books, which had gone out of print, have been rebooted as eBooks, I was ecstatic. This first, out of four new regency romances, I have chosen did not disappoint. Meg conjures up two unlikely lovers and has them locked in a fierce embrace halfway through the book. She mixes together seduction, scandal and sweetness beautifully. Kate Mayhew is smart and lovable, with a mysterious past that leaves the reader curious to know more. Burke Traherne is at first frightening but his steely character soon thaws out of control. With plenty of drama and humour, this is certainly a satisfying read.