I had enjoyed Spencer's Outcasts series, which is kinda the previous generation to these characters, an above average amount, so I was happy to get an advance copy of this to review. I nearly always read series in order, so I acquired books 1 and 2, and started at the beginning. I read Notorious, and didn't really care for it. And then I read Outrageous, and actually liked it even less. So by the time I was caught up to read this book, I was really dragging my feet. Finally I made myself start it, thinking I would just chip away at it a few chapters at a time... and I honestly didn't want to put it down. I read the whole thing in pretty much one sitting. Even when I had to get up to do something I carried my phone with the book open around as I did it, just glancing away when absolutely necessary. lol. I can't even explain why the first two were a drudge for me to get through, and this one reeled me in from the start. Something just made me invest in these characters so I was interested in how things would play out for them. I wasn't quite as taken with the secondary couple, mostly because that heroine frustrated me, but I didn't resent their presence in the book. The main couple though I found unique and engaging. This has restored my faith in this author. =) ( )

A fun, flirty romantic romp. Celia is a woman with a past and society doesn’t treat those kindly. Youthful indiscretion leads her into a life she was never prepared for — but there are few choices for girls in her position. But then fate puts her back with people from that fateful night…. WIll things change for the better this time? ( )

I read this as an ARC through NetGalley.

This is an incredibly compelling story of a former mean girl whose bad behavior has been more than rewarded with punishment even before the story begins.

Once the darling of the Ton, known for her clever set-downs of anyone who was a bit different, and a master of punching down at people poorer or less socially apt than herself, Celia Trent was one of a very fast set surrounding the heir to a Dukedom and part of his inner circle. She was close to snaring a rich marriage with the heir to an Earl, one Lucien Redvers, who was set to ask for her hand.

She also used her position to torment a poorer, wallflower, former schoolmate, Phyllida, and the intellectually-inclined twin brother to her beau Lucien, Richard. When asked by the future Duke to pen letters to Richard and Phyllida to trap them together in a room and create a scandal, one letter was mistakenly delivered to the Earl's heir, Lucien, instead of his twin brother. He and Phyllida were trapped into marriage and it was revealed that it was all Celia's idea (she'd written the letters after all), earning her the name Lady Infamous and drumming her out of the Ton.

In the years since that time she has come far down in the world, eventually landing as an elderly Lady's companion. This lady just happens to be the Aunt of the Duke who ran Celia’s former set, who is now planning to marry the younger sister of Lucien and Richard. Celia has to go to the home of her former beau and the woman she once tormented as a servant.

It ends up being nothing you'd expect and that's the best thing about this book. The entire storyline is fresh and interesting.

Celia is genuinely remorseful, and not just because her cruelty precipitated her own downfall. And she is a far more sympathetic protagonist than you'd imagine. Her life has been incredibly hard as an impoverished former noblewoman. And she has genuinely suffered while all those she tormented have prospered. And she’s not bitter about that. She’s glad things came out well for them.

Those she tormented are mostly far more gracious than you could expect. But they always were decent people, unlike Celia.

Needless to say, Celia has changed so much that she now falls for one of her former victims, Richard, who has become a famous naturalist. And she is an object of interest to him, not just because she remains extremely beautiful, but because he always wants to know what makes people do what they do.

I don’t want to spoil too much, because this ride is such a fun one. And you get two romances for the price of one, as Lucien and Phyllida, who got off on the very wrong foot in their marriage, also get to work things out during the story.

I have read a lot of regencies and this one wasn’t just a retread of something else. There’s genuinely new ground being covered in portions of it. The characters are well-rounded and fresh and they seem like real people, not one-note. There are some that are very quirky, but they are quirky in a real way. Lucien and Richard, though twins, are totally different instead of being interchangeable as are so many twins in stories, and it seems that Richard is on the autism spectrum, which is also handled very, very well and explains both his social difficulties and his inability to care about society’s concerns at all. Their mother is also described similarly, so heredity is even evident.

There is also a well-rounded villain or two. Rich kids getting away with it, and I think we’ve all encountered a few of those.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, though I’ve found the covers intriguing for some time. I will be seeking out more of her work. ( )

Life changing moments!

I love Richard, Viscount Redvers, the nerd who's not a nerd. The man quietly simmers. Entomologist, naturalist and adventurer, Richard is returning home for his sister Antonia’s wedding--to a man he loathed, Sebastian Fanshawe, the Duke of Dowden, slithery as a snake and twice as poisonous.
Unknowingly, joining the party is the widowed Celia Pelham. She is now Dowden’s aunt, Lady Yancy’s companion / maid. Ten years ago Celia had been known as CT , the brightest star of her season, and whom all thought was going to marry Richard’s twin brother Lucien, including Celia. At that time, Celia secretly filled all Richard’ thoughts even as he knew Celia was all the woman his brother was determined marry. That was until a scandal threw Lucien and Celia’s friend Phyliida Singleton into an unfortunate situation. Celia as the instigator of the occasion is tagged Lady Infamous by Society. And just who was the behind this? Well let’s just say that whilst Celia might have pulled the trigger, the architect it seems was none other than the tardy bridegroom-to-be.
To be fair, in the here and now, the house wedding party was the last place Celia wanted to be.
Heaps of drama and nefarious doings happen, as our entomologist comes to find out that relationships aren't always down to survival of the fittest, there’s sometimes something more.
The thing is I'm never sure whether I like Celia. I really had to think about how to respond to her. Certainly in her “infamous” incarnation she's a mean girl, a cat and a bully. As the story moves forward we learn why. I can't help but be shocked by her being only seventeen when the story first begins. Now she's ten years older and wiser. A survivor. As much a victim of male perpetrators as others. How does a seventeen year old protect herself if there's no one to stand by her side? Sebastian is all that is bad. And the perpetrator who never stops persecuting Celia, even after all this time. I did love Antonia's way of handling him.
Redemption comes for Celia, as other threads of the story come together. Not without heartache and despair.
Another sparkling tale from Spencer bringing together parties from previous times such as those of the twins’ and Antonia’s parents, Baron and Baroness Ramsay.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley ( )

This was a most delightful read with engaging characters, two lovely romances, and a lesson for all of us – people are not always who/what they seem. I love it when I get two romances in a book – and both of these are really lovely. I almost said that one of them was a second chance romance, but I’m not sure that is true because they never had a chance at romance the first time.

Our first couple is Lucian and Phyllida (Phil) who had never even met prior to the night they were compelled to become betrothed. Lucian was planning to ask the woman he loved, Celia Trent, to marry him. He would be paying a visit to her father the following morning. Ah – such are the puny plans of men. Fate, however, is wiser than we are and sometimes steps in whether we wish her to or not. A very nasty trick, meant for someone else, goes awry and Phil and Lucian end up locked in a closet overnight – which, of course, necessitates marriage for them. Phyllida has lived with the insecurity of knowing she was not her husband’s chosen bride for the last ten years. She has pushed him away – and pushed him away – and pushed him away – and their marriage is definitely feeling the strain. After ten years and two children, Lucian is at his wit's end – until he gets some unsolicited advice from his bachelor brother, Richard.

Richard and Celia – what an unlikely pair – or are they? Richard was supposed to be the one on whom the nasty trick was to be played. Richard was supposed to be the one trapped in the closet with Phyllida because both of them were the recipients of the ‘bad girls’ scorn. When the trick is revealed, it seems the only person to pay a price – other than Lucian and Phyllida – is Celia. Not only does she lose Lucian – who was to be her salvation – she is cast out of society to begin a horrible ten years of suffering.

When the four of them are thrown together at a Christmas house party meant to celebrate Richard and Lucian’s sister’s wedding, tensions run very, very high. Phyllida’s insecurities rise to an incredible level, Richard is just Richard (you’ll love him), Lucian has fallen in love with his wife and doesn’t want Celia anywhere around, and Celia has no choice because she is now the paid companion to a very cranky old lady who insists they attend the house party.

It was utterly delightful to watch these four navigate the rocky road that is before them. Misconceptions are explored, forgiveness is given, a nasty viper of a villain is thwarted, and – well – love wins.

I loved this delightfully well-written, well-paced, very romantic read. I loved learning how Celia had grown and changed, and I loved seeing Phyllida blossom under Lucian’s care. Then, there is the BIG fall for our thoroughly analytical scientist, Richard. Richard doesn’t believe in love – until he falls and falls hard. I don’t think one romance really outshines the other, both are very different, and both are very romantic. I can definitely recommend this book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )