A twelve (or more) year age gap is not unheard of, but it didn’t work here. Charlotte is “not yet twenty-one” and while Piers’ age is never specifically stated, he must be at least 32. I tried reading Do You Want to Start a Scandal twice – once in my original attempt and again for this review. It’s amazing how much of my time was taken up with wondering “How old is Piers exactly?” in the midst of skipping forward to find a more interesting part of the story. As they wend their way through plot machinations, they discover they are mad for each other and all that’s left is the genre’s forgone conclusion. After all, it is a romance novel truth universally acknowledged that a peer must be in want of an heir.Īutocratic and closed off Piers is drawn to Charlotte’s intelligence and charm, while she soon learns that below the surface and behind his protective walls is a loving and passionate man. Kissing book plotting has other plans for them. Their betrothal now imminent, they agree to the appearance of an understanding to get through the remainder of the estate. Before you can say “in flagrante delicto”, Charlotte and Piers are caught alone together and giving the appearance of having crossed several lines. Devoted to his duty to King and country, he is caught off guard when Charlotte Highwood presents herself to him with a warning: Her mother will be trying to force a match between them and they must be careful to avoid it.

Piers Brandon, Lord Granville is an agent of the crown performing reconnaissance at a two-week house party in the English countryside. Tessa Dare’s latest Regency romance series is called The Duchess Deal and I would recommend its first book, Girl Meets Duke, over Do You Want to Start a Scandal? This crossover story between Dare’s Spindle Cove and Castles Ever After novels, features the youngest of the Highwood sisters and longtime troublemaker, Charlotte, who has both eldest sibling Diana’s desire for a loving home and intellectual Minerva‘s sense of adventure.

Tessa dare diana highwood