Title: How to Survive a Scandal (Rebels with a Cause #1)
Author: Samara Parish
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: May 25th, 2021
332 pages
4/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
In this whirlwind Regency romance, a near-death experience leads to a marriage of convenience for two unsuspecting strangers, but will their unusual meeting lead them to true love?
Lady Amelia was raised to be the perfect duchess, accomplished in embroidery, floral arrangement, and managing a massive household. But when an innocent mistake forces her and the uncouth, untitled Benedict Asterly into a marriage of convenience, all her training appears to be for naught. Even worse, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to this man no finishing school could have prepared her for.
Benedict Asterly never dreamed saving Amelia’s life would lead to him being shackled to the hoity Society miss. Benedict was taught to distrust the aristocracy at a young age, so when news of his marriage endangers a business deal, Benedict is wary of Amelia’s offer to help. But his quick-witted, elegant bride defies all his expectations… and if he’s not careful, she’ll break down the walls around his guarded heart.
Review
“Of course I bloody love her. Frankly, I don’t know how you were engaged to her for fifteen years without falling in love with her.”
Samara Parish, How to Survive a Scandal
I don’t read a ton of bodice ripper, regency romance novels but when Forever asked if I was interested I couldn’t pass up this one. Lady Amelia has been engaged to the Duke of Wildeforde since she was 5 years old, and was raised to be the perfect Duchess. That is, until she was caught in a carriage in a snowstorm and rescued by a commoner, and then found in a compromising situation by her father, fiance, and another lord. She finds herself immediately married to the commoner who saved her and fell completely from grace on the ton.
Amelia’s and Benedict’s lives change forever and they have to learn how to coexist in their new realities and it really was a whole journey to compromise and two very different people try to dictate their ways. But over the course of the book you can see the love grow from the physical attraction and the growth of the two characters. The main conflict hurt my heart as there were a few very tragic events they had to overcome. There were times where I wanted to strangle both of them and shake some sense into them.
I tend not to enjoy these books because even reading about women’s place in the world back then hurts my soul and makes me angry. And I don’t want to read books that make me angry. But this one brought a much needed perspective to the time period and also showed a modern sensibility take on it, and I could handle that.
I’m excited for the next one in the series, Fiona and Edward’s story! Check out How to Deceive a Duke next.
Happy reading, folks!
Baltimore Bibliophile 