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elizabethlk's review
5.0
This was a genuinely fun and enjoyable finish to a series that I have adored. I'm glad I had the chance to read it.
lunasmaria's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
This book was good, not as good as the other shorts but cute.
I didn't vibe with the characters very well despite being a fan of Liam in Madeline's novel. It was also very PWP, they built up a relationship but I felt like the majority of scenes were just sex scenes.
The book closed nicely and while the series may have finished without it, it was a nice little end to the Scandals and all their players.
Note: you should read the main stories before this one, the novellas aren't necessary. Also - there's no final epilogue or wrap up for the characters. This is really just another one off shot of story.
This book was good, not as good as the other shorts but cute.
I didn't vibe with the characters very well despite being a fan of Liam in Madeline's novel. It was also very PWP, they built up a relationship but I felt like the majority of scenes were just sex scenes.
The book closed nicely and while the series may have finished without it, it was a nice little end to the Scandals and all their players.
Note: you should read the main stories before this one, the novellas aren't necessary. Also - there's no final epilogue or wrap up for the characters. This is really just another one off shot of story.
cakt1991's review against another edition
1.0
I received an digital ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I loved the previous books in the Scandals series, and the other novellas she has written have been great, so I was excited to read more.
But this book was not my cup of tea. I understood going in that the heroine was the author of a scandalous book, and I am well aware that it is hard to create a well-developed story within a hundred or so pages, when longer novels have almost 400 pages to develop the story. But I couldn't find a reason to like either the hero or heroine enough to keep myself interested.
One thing I had an issue with was that it felt too rushed, like they just fell into bed and there was no emotional connection between the two. I realize the whole point was that Bathsheba wanted to have more sexual experience for her books, but it just felt too abrupt for me, and the fact that if Liam said no, she was willing to go seek it out from strangers just made me feel uncomfortable. I have no problem with sexual intimacy in historical romance novels, and they don't even need to be in a committed relationship at that point, but this one just felt too rushed.
But this book was not my cup of tea. I understood going in that the heroine was the author of a scandalous book, and I am well aware that it is hard to create a well-developed story within a hundred or so pages, when longer novels have almost 400 pages to develop the story. But I couldn't find a reason to like either the hero or heroine enough to keep myself interested.
One thing I had an issue with was that it felt too rushed, like they just fell into bed and there was no emotional connection between the two. I realize the whole point was that Bathsheba wanted to have more sexual experience for her books, but it just felt too abrupt for me, and the fact that if Liam said no, she was willing to go seek it out from strangers just made me feel uncomfortable. I have no problem with sexual intimacy in historical romance novels, and they don't even need to be in a committed relationship at that point, but this one just felt too rushed.
georgiewhoissarahdrew's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up to say thank you for the series
I've enjoyed this whole series, with a particular weakness for the first book, [b:Love and Other Scandals|16065684|Love and Other Scandals (Scandalous, #1)|Caroline Linden|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1363562752s/16065684.jpg|21856329] (that's because Linden lets the hero be a home-improvement nut - very sweet). Along the way, to my pleasure, CL has dropped in the odd novella to round out the series. She's one of only few authors that gets the novella form right more or less every time ([b:I Love the Earl|12025403|I Love the Earl (The Truth About the Duke, #0.5)|Caroline Linden|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1310512094s/12025403.jpg|16991384] from the "Truth about the Duke" series is just luvverly).
TSoMS is another winner. There's a simple plot -
Bathsheba: "For research purposes only - ahem - I require you to seduce me."
Liam: "Bad idea. I mean, so-so idea. On third thoughts, maybe it has potential. Lots of lovely potential...."
They fall in love. The end.
What I liked though about this version of what is, after all, a reasonably common plot is that it avoided the Condescending Sex Tutor pitfall. You know, the one where the H twirls hypothetical moustaches & ignores any comments the h makes about the Process, in favour of telling her he knows best. The h is then grateful and certain this is love.
Here, instead, Bathsheba is (or certainly tries to be) ruthlessly practical about the whole exercise.
He took the glass out of her limp fingers. “Tonight you’re going to undress me. If you also wish to disrobe…” He flashed his lazy smile. “I will not object.”
Oh dear Lord. The thought of Liam, naked, sent her pulse leaping so hard, she thought she might faint. “That is not what I asked for,” she blurted out.
“Seduction goes both ways,” he countered. “At least, it should.” He folded back one shirt cuff and undid it, then undid the other one. He dropped the studs on the mantel. “Or do you find it unappealing?”
No. She found the idea dangerously, lusciously appealing, and she feared the actual experience of it would leave her a lunatic, mad with lust for him. “Don’t be silly,” she said brusquely. “You’re the bloody expert, I’ll follow your recommendation.”
It's Liam who finds himself surprised by the depth of emotions he experiences. Although the focus is very much on H&h, Liam's scenes with his brother are both entertaining and a useful barometer of his feelings.
I do wish though, that I could actually read "50 Ways to Sin" and "The Tales of Lady X".
I've enjoyed this whole series, with a particular weakness for the first book, [b:Love and Other Scandals|16065684|Love and Other Scandals (Scandalous, #1)|Caroline Linden|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1363562752s/16065684.jpg|21856329] (that's because Linden lets the hero be a home-improvement nut - very sweet). Along the way, to my pleasure, CL has dropped in the odd novella to round out the series. She's one of only few authors that gets the novella form right more or less every time ([b:I Love the Earl|12025403|I Love the Earl (The Truth About the Duke, #0.5)|Caroline Linden|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1310512094s/12025403.jpg|16991384] from the "Truth about the Duke" series is just luvverly).
TSoMS is another winner. There's a simple plot -
Bathsheba: "For research purposes only - ahem - I require you to seduce me."
Liam: "Bad idea. I mean, so-so idea. On third thoughts, maybe it has potential. Lots of lovely potential...."
They fall in love. The end.
What I liked though about this version of what is, after all, a reasonably common plot is that it avoided the Condescending Sex Tutor pitfall. You know, the one where the H twirls hypothetical moustaches & ignores any comments the h makes about the Process, in favour of telling her he knows best. The h is then grateful and certain this is love.
Here, instead, Bathsheba is (or certainly tries to be) ruthlessly practical about the whole exercise.
He took the glass out of her limp fingers. “Tonight you’re going to undress me. If you also wish to disrobe…” He flashed his lazy smile. “I will not object.”
Oh dear Lord. The thought of Liam, naked, sent her pulse leaping so hard, she thought she might faint. “That is not what I asked for,” she blurted out.
“Seduction goes both ways,” he countered. “At least, it should.” He folded back one shirt cuff and undid it, then undid the other one. He dropped the studs on the mantel. “Or do you find it unappealing?”
No. She found the idea dangerously, lusciously appealing, and she feared the actual experience of it would leave her a lunatic, mad with lust for him. “Don’t be silly,” she said brusquely. “You’re the bloody expert, I’ll follow your recommendation.”
It's Liam who finds himself surprised by the depth of emotions he experiences. Although the focus is very much on H&h, Liam's scenes with his brother are both entertaining and a useful barometer of his feelings.
I do wish though, that I could actually read "50 Ways to Sin" and "The Tales of Lady X".
hayleyde's review
5.0
This is my favorite of the Scandalous novellas. So much emotion packed into that short page count—it’s the friends with benefits/sex for “research” trope that I love, with all its complications and heartache.
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