Ten Kisses to Scandal (Misadventures in Matchmaking #2)

I have no idea why I pre-ordered this book or why I even paid so much for it. I do recall having enjoyed some of this author\’s books in the past. The h is a matchmaker in her uncle\’s business, she has only just started but feels undervalued by her two older sisters who also work in the business. She takes on a challenge, and a rake is to give her lessons in exchange for a kiss after each of them. The rake is an Earl (and he is also the H) who was previously married disastrously and has no intention of marrying again. He warns the h not to fall in love with him. They have a number of adventures before she does the inevitable by falling in love with him. There are a number of problems with this book and I\’m just going to say that if you love traditional Regency HRs then forget about this book e.g. the h\’s oldest sister is married to a Duke, yet she\’s working in the matchmaking business. And another thing, did they really have matchmaking agencies in those days?? +++Spoilers+++ There are a number of sex scenes which take place outside of marriage. The H knowingly takes the h\’s virginity without the intention of marrying her. The number of scenes where the main characters are unchaperoned, and able to indulge themselves in aforementioned sex scenes are numerous. There is a situation where the H\’s cousin becomes enamoured with the h\’s illegitimate half brother. The way it comes about is ridiculous. I\’ve said enough, I didn\’t like the book and I\’m going to avoid this author in the future.

The youngest sister, Briar, if the Bourne Matchmaker Agency is full of hope, joy and laughter. Time spent with her cannot help but being smiles. She is artless and dreams of \”scenarios\” of happily ever after for her clients. She does feel burdened by overprotectiveness by her older sister and sets out to prove her worthiness so she sets out on an early morning jaunt to hunt an elusive bachelor and there she meets Nicholas, Lord Egerton. He has just finished a night of debauchery at the gaming hell across the street and is busy fondling his latest conquest. Their initial meeting is very funny and sets the stage for further interactions. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and quite happily suspended belief that women of station did not work in that era. It is a work of fiction after all. My only complaint was the subplot of her half brother finding his match with Temperance, Briar\’s friend and client. I would have liked more background on the half siblings she did not know but I am assuming there will be further mention of them in the upcoming 3rd book. I am looking forward to the story of Ainsley, the oldest sister, and Reed, the owner of the gaming hell.

A naive, romantic \”matchmaker\” and a bitter, arrogant Earl meet head-on. And this is enough of a synopsis. Meanwhile, I found I needed to suspend my disbelief a bit here with the number of times these two were left unchaperoned. Of course, they needed to be left alone to allow for the \”agreement\” to proceed. This did not ruin my enjoyment of the really fresh approach to an HEA. The dialogue alone impressed me with so much banter between the H/h that I laughed aloud frequently. Excellent writing, intelligent characters, a fun plot twist and no never-ending angst driven monologues (a real plus!) had me smiling throughout this novel.

This is my first Vivienne Lorret book. I like how well-balanced this book (and its characters) is and yet has the full impact of a love story that inspires. Editing issues are so minimal (not that it really matters to me but for some readers it might). I enjoyed how light and funny the banters can be and how the plot made me sigh and just feel happy that I read this book. The hero was original in the sense that he is a rake and is jaded but he has humor and innate sense of honor/gallantry. He is not the typical overwhelmingly handsome adonis but he does have strength of presence. The innocent heroine is just like sunshine. She is idealistic, humorous, genuine, honest and open. The development of the characters since the moment they met was just seamless. There were lovemaking scenes in this book but nothing too disturbingly graphic and vulgar. The major and minor characters complemented each other well. The way the hero tried to win back the heroine was something really worth reading. It was not over the top but it was such a touching moment. In the storyline nothing is too melodramatic or dragging and angsty. And no shameful plug of sequels. I love that it was written the way it was written. And the epilogue is just cherry on the icing. And of course, I have already decided to purchase the other books in the series.

This wasn\’t a bad book. The heroine had a very bubbly, optimistic, personality. Briar seemed to be a terrible matchmaker. The funny banter between Nicholas and Briar was enjoyable. The secondary characters also added depth and humor to the story. I did however find the pacing somewhat slow in parts. The beginning was good but towards the middle the story dragged a little bit. I think the lessons were drawn out way too long and the lovemaking finally happened way too late in the book for my taste. The major love scene was tastefully done and not vulgar or overly explicit. Other love scenes ( which I think it was just one or two) were kind of added as an afterthought and not much to them. I love chocolate but the constant references to chocolate and whipped chocolate drink just became a running filler throughout the book that sometimes seemed dumb to be repeated so often to me. The epilogue was sweet but just a tad overly cheesy, mediocre, and seemed a little too rushed in my opinion.

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