Quinton has grown so much. When we first meet Quinton he is a rake. He is a one that doesn’t think of the consequences to others even when he is trying to do what is right. He takes risks and those have consequences. This is what happened when the story begins six years ago for Annabelle- her and Quinton are innocent but due to him wanting to protect her it turns into a scandal.

Now we are in the present and Annabelle needs to marry so she can keep her home. The consequences of six years ago are being felt and she is desperate. Annabelle is a great character. Strong willed, intelligent, caring and stubborn. She is also a very hard worker and fair to others. But she isn’t one that others find to be a prospect for marriage. At least not until her dowry is known.

quinton and his brother are called in by their aunt to help. They are to weed out the rakes and let the good ones go into courting Annabelle. quinton is mired in some guilt over his dad and mom. He is adamant about not falling in love because of the pain in the end it causes. He wants to find his own way and show he is his own man and can make a success of things that isn’t his family’s. He has become a responsible, caring and yet still retained his fun way. His attraction to Annabelle is immediate and one seen right away as it leaps off the pages. He does deny it though. Even when he knows its love he denies it. He is afraid of that and of not fulfilling a promise to his dad and disappointing him.

So what happens when a strong willed young lady reunites with a stubborn man who is conflicted on where he belongs and wants to prove his worth? We get sparks flying, witting banter, entertaining times and heroism in all forms. Quinton sees her and respects her. he supports what she wants and does everything he can to help her with her dream without having to marry. He is even willing to sacrifice what he thinks is his future for her. We see a mystery come about as well as accidents mysteriously happen. Annabelle gets a exasperating but supportive man who is there for her and listens.

We get antics from the brothers and some hysterical moments as we see how they find the rakes of suitors and get reprimanded by the aunt. We see quinton discover that love is something he can’t stop from happening and how wonderful and real it is. He learns that where you belong isnt’ always where you think. He learns to sacrifice for the one he loves and prove where he belongs to her as well. We see Annabelle learn about quinton and who he really is. She sees he has changed as well. We get some witty banter between the two and attraction that sizzles. We get action and intimacy. entertainment and danger.

In the end we get a story of two wonderful characters finding their way to one another. We see their thoughts and desires and watch them grow and fall in love in this well written story of love and finding your way.

I loved this story! It is the second book in Anna Harrington's Capturing the Carlisles series. If you love historical romances with independent and intelligent heroines and dashing alpha heroes then this series is perfect for you.
Annabelle Green and Quinton Carlisle had been found in the garden in a seemingly questionable circumstance that compromised her character and ended her first season while Quinton went about his life as usual, but years later when Annabelle needs his help he realizes just how much that situation had played out in her life while having very little effect on his unless you count his heart.
Quinton was the last person Annabelle wanted to help her, but it seemed her best plan and he wouldn't be around long enough to figure out just how deeply her feelings were for him after all of these years.

The Carlisle brothers are a force to be reckoned with and only the love of a strong woman will be able to tame them.

If the Duke Demands started the foundation for a wonderful new series by Anna Harrington. This is the story of Quinton Carlisle who is eager to start his new independent life in America. Before he goes, his Aunt seeks his help to find a husband for her ward, Annabelle Green, who must marry to inherit the only home she’s ever known. Annabelle sees this as an opportunity for Quinn to right the wrong of a night 6 years prior that led to her ruination. All he has to do is marry her before he leaves for distant shores.

This book continues to show the depth of the Carlisle family when it comes to how they were affected by the loss of their beloved father. All the boys lose the ability to love and they will only be healed by the love of a good woman. Annabelle was perfect for Quinn. I loved how he needled her as an immature boy would yet protects her as only a man with incredible strength could.

Another winner as I am sure Robert’s will be as well.

When the Scoundrel Sins was such a fun read! The story was a sort of enemies to lovers except they weren't exactly enemies, more frenemies. But it made for a sexy read when things got heated. Quinton is the bad boy that wants the very good girl and Annabelle is the good girl that everyone thinks is bad. This story picks up so fast and then takes off. I loved all the characters even the ones I desperately love to hate. They all made the story unfold and become a fantastic tale that I didn't want to put down. I firmly believe we all need a Quinton in our life, even if it is just to keep us on our toes!

The writing was flowing and never faltered. The story was engaging. I wanted more even as it ended. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a historical romance.

Thanks Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and netgalley for this ARC.

When they finally stop bickering- these two jump off the page with their chemistry. I loved this love story.

I like the cover, although its fairly similar to a lot of other British regency romance type novels. The story is about Ana"Belle" who is the companion of an aging Lady and her Husband. When her husband dies, as part of his will, he leaves Belle an estate, that legally becomes hers, once she turns 25. The caveat is that she must marry before she turns 25, in order to claim the estate. This keeps her future and the property from being claimed by her money grubbing-absentee father. Enter Quinn, her potential rescuer/potential husband. Quinn, has a thirst to prove himself, beyond what his family name and influence can gain him. He is all set to sail for America, to make his way in the world, when his Aunt calls him for help. He starts to fall for Belle, and thus begins the "Will he stay for love? or Will he leave for duty" question. I'm not going to spoil it, but the characters are like-able, and I love that they changed it up. Its normally the man who must marry to gain his inheritance. But in this case, its all about Belle, :)

When the Scoundrel Sins is book two in the Capturing the Carlisles series by Anna Harrington. It can be read as a standalone there is no story arc crossover. Yet again we have ourselves a hero who doesn't realize what he's feeling is love, and is too stubborn to give in. Annabelle Green who is also too stubborn for her own good, but it makes for a fun read.

Annabelle Green was the daughter of the housekeeper and loved by her mother employers, Lord and Lady Ainsley, so much that when her mother died they brought her on as a companion, even gave her the opportunity to come out in society. It was hard enough for Anna to get by in society as a companion and the daughter of a servant but when Quinn kissed her and joked about it, she was heart broken she always liked Quinn. In her haste to run away from him she tears her dress and walks into a room with the busy bodies of the ton and thus ended her place and reputation in society. Annabelle never forgave Quinn for his actions but it seems now that she needs him to help her find a husband.

Quinn was a youthful idiot he didn't realize just how bad he screwed up Annabelle's life that night, but ever since that kiss he's never forgotten her. Quinn is tired of living of his family's name he wants something he can call his own. His plans are to go to America and buy out a farmer who wants to retire, but un urgent message has him detour to the Scottish/English border. He really shouldn't go time is of the essence but it's about Annabelle and he can't refuse seeing her one last time. What Quinn finds out about why he was summoned surprises him, Annabelle is an heiress. To protect Annabelle from her imprisoned father, in case he ever got out left the estate she has lived on and taken care of for the last six years as her dowry so that way he couldn't get his hands on it. The only catch is that she has to marry by her twenty-fifth birthday or lose it all. So far the only suitor she has is her misogynist neighbor.

Quinn finally realizes how much he screwed up with her, and even though he now knows how much he cares for her if he married her for her land it still wouldn't be his, Quinn needs Annabelle's solicitor to find a loophole so that she can inherit the estate without being married. Quinn even goes as far as asking his brother to help buy the estate and then lease it to her. Either way he is going to make sure Annabelle keeps the home she loves and he still goes to America; that is until she agrees to marry her nasty neighbor. Quinn can't let that happen. But they are all saved when a huge secret is finally revealed, can Annabelle convince Quinn to stay with her or is his dream in America stronger than his love for her.

Overall, it was a good read. I do hope that Robert's book is next he made a good secondary character. All the characters were great, for the exception for the times Quinn got annoying in his reluctance that had me thinking to myself, Really? Has he matured? but otherwise it was a fun read.

A five-star review on Capturing the Carlisles 2 When the Scoundrel Sins by Anna Harrington
Annabelle is about to inherit the property where she has been so happy and considers her home. All she has to do is to get married but to whom?
Quinn has always been teasing Belle when they were younger. Now she has become a wonderful woman, caring, hard worker and intelligent. Quinn is drawn to her, like a moth to the light. However, he is unable to help her.
A wonderful read where the characters are very likable. They are strong but caring, totally down to earth who work hard to achieve their goals. I like how Anna works hard with the workers, no matter how dirty she gets. I like too how Quinn starts to love Belle’s property and the people who work in it and how he involves himself in the problems they are having.
It is always a pleasure to read a book by Anna Harrington. If you like a good romance and you like Regency this is the perfect book for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy given to me by NetGalley.

This was a highly entertaining historical romance. I loved the tension between Quinn and Belle but I was frustrated at times with the struggle between them. Still it was romantic and sexy and I'm a sucker for these kinds of story lines.

Who doesn't love a reformed rake? Especially when he does not even realize he is being reformed?!?!?!? The Carlisle Brothers are known for their exploits and Annabelle is all too aware of the danger of them, Quinn in particular. After one kiss 6 years ago ruins her chances at an advantageous marriage she is less than pleased that she has to rely on him for help to find a husband keep her home. Yet, after 6 years the passion between them is still electric. Belle is a strong passionate character who is comfortable in her own skin and a strong leader. Quinn is a Carlisle, 3rd son who wants to leave and make a name for himself. They do not suit....
Such a good read. Anna is able to portray each character's inner struggle and throw in some interesting twists!!!

Actions and consequences!

Harrington bases Annabelle (Belle) Green's story around the laws of inheritance and matrimony pursuant to regency times. When a woman married her property becomes her husband's to do with as he willed.
However the twist in this story is that Belle has been left an estate by her benefactor's husband near the Scottish border that will revert to the church if she's not married by her twenty-fifth birthday. Belle must marry to retain her home she loves dearly. But whom is there to marry who will let her retain oversight of her beloved Castle Glenarvon.
And there's the rub. Belle has been more or less away from society due to having been caught in an interesting situation at a ball six years ago with the rake, Quinton Carlisle, her nemesis and one of her oldest childhood friends.
The third son of a duke, Quinn is about to set sail for America to take up land and a new future.
However his aunt Agnes, Belle's benefactress wants him to vet Belle's suitors and help with Belle's situation. As both Belle and Aunt Agnes see it, Quinn owes Belle. After all it takes a rogue to know a rogue. Here's the thing, Quinn has always been taken with his blue stocking friend Belle, but love and marriage has no part to play in his life, for a variety of reasons. A driving one being that all he has seen of love is the heartache and hurt when a partner dies, not the joy. Another reason is that Quinn wants to be his own man and prove himself, which is what the land in America promises.
I found the characters somewhat obtuse as they battled their own inclinations. Lost in their own realities, they both seemed unwilling to entertain alternatives.
The story has a supercilious suitor, sabotage, love denied, and the drama around Belle's best course of action. As Belle's sad childhood is revealed, Quinn fights his inclination to protect her. As the attraction between Belle and himself becomes an unstoppable flame, Quinn continues to fight the notion of love, but the chemistry between them has little chance of being denied. Quinn is continually fighting duty and attraction.
The solution ends up being an elegant surprise with a few twists that shows that all the angst might have been avoided with a good dose of reality. Still this is a romantic regency novel not real life.

A NetGalley ARC
(August 2017)

I heard really good things about the first book in this series, and I had never read this author, so I thought I would give this one a try. I think I should have just read book one. I became a bit frustrated with this one.

I guess I should have read the blurb more closely, because the plot/set-up of this one felt a little silly. Annabelle’s mother died and her father went to prison. The Ainsley’s took her in (her mother was their housekeeper) and loved her and raised her as one of their own. But her family status, or the lack thereof, is known in the ton, and she is an outcast. But there is one shining light in her life – an estate ten miles from England. Lord Ainsley, who has since died, left her this property in his will, but with stipulations. The property transfers to her on her twenty-fifth birthday, as long as she is married. When the book starts, she has four weeks until this birthday, and no fiance in sight. Lady Ainsely decides to call upon her great-nephew to come help sort through suitors with Annabelle, before he leaves to travel to the States and start his own life overseas. Quinton shows up shortly after her plea.

Quinton has known Annabelle throughout his childhood, but he was more a tormentor than a friend. He kissed Annabelle six years ago, and it ended in disaster. He has not seen her since. Quinton, a third son, wants to work and prove himself to society – and has land waiting for him in South Carolina. But first he agrees to help Annabelle find a husband. She wants to marry for love – but she only has four weeks.

Quinton and Annabelle are both cute, and are even cute together, but I also spent most of the book wanting to strangle both of them. First, I thought that Quinton and Annabelle felt like best friends from the start. In reality, they have not seen each other for six years and weren’t really friends before that, so for them to be so familiar with each other – or for Quinton to be so invested in Annabelle’s future, felt off to me.

I got frustrated because the entire book is spent with Quinton and Annabelle either interviewing future husbands or making out with each other and then pushing each other away. But we all know how it ends. We all know these two are destined for each other – the journey to that HEA felt unnecessarily long. I didn’t care about the men that paraded through her life for those short four weeks. I got annoyed when Quinton and Annabelle would finally admit some feelings to each other, just to get mad about something or decide later that their romance couldn’t happen.

And then at the end – gah! More frustration and then a secret is told and I just didn’t like the twist.

Quinton is a good guy. He is a sexy guy. He made me smile at times! Annabelle has spirit, and I like that she fights for a marriage of love and not duty. But my frustrations outweighed the good times.

Grade: C

Annabelle is facing an uncertain future. She must marry by her twenty fifth birthday, which is rapidly approaching, or lose her inheritance the only home she’s known. She had wanted to find love, to be that one special person in a man’s life – instead she had a ruined reputation from a simple kiss. Life is far from fair and in desperation she knows exactly who is to blame for her circumstance… and he owes her. Proposing marriage, even a marriage of convenience is not an easy task, but she will not lose her home. When Quinn refuses her demands but counters with an option of his own Annabelle is left with little choice. Quinn will help her find a man to marry well in time, and she will get her happy ending while he sails off to America and his own future. Except it didn’t quite work out that way.

While I enjoyed When A Scoundrel Sins very much, I also have to admit that Annabelle and Quinn often frustrated me both individually and as a couple. Quinn has a serious case of “I don’t want her but you cannot have her” attitude for the majority of their story. He seems to have no real concept that his teasing her out into the night and a single kiss completely stole her future, her reputation from her. I got that as the youngest son he needed to prove himself to his family by becoming a success in America. But real men own up to their mistakes and make things right. His constant finding fault with every single man that Annabelle might have found a future with was both telling about his own feelings for her and exceedingly frustrating to me. Yes, they did work their way to their happy ever after… but the road there was long and complicated.

If you love Historical Romance then I believe this story or the entire series would be something you’d want to pick up. I’ll be following the rest of this series and will be watching for the next release in the spring of 2018.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

While I really like a friends to lovers book, I just never really got Quinton. I liked him, he was funny, honest and loyal. Everything that you could want in a hero but I never really got him. There was just too much stubbornness and angst. It felt a bit over the top and began to get old. The story failed to pull me in and get me involved. It was very easy to lay aside and I had to struggle a bit to finish it.
That said, I loved Annabelle and the setting for the story. I throughly enjoyed that it didn't take place in London and loved the country setting. I'm not sure if this would have been more enjoyable if I'd read the first book in the series. I do have it and will read it before reading book three.

Annabelle Green needs a husband as soon as possible. If she doesn’t have one by her 25th birthday in just four weeks, then she’ll lose everything she loves. The problem is that she only wants a love match, regardless of the fact that it’s not the norm. She’s seen what happens when there’s no love and she’s also seen what a marriage full of love looks like. Unfortunately, her very limited reputation was ruined five years before by Quinton Carlisle. Hopefully now he can make amends by helping her solve her problem.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It was a quick read and I did enjoy the story even though it’s a frequently used formula. I really liked Annabelle and wanted to see her come out on top. However, I didn’t like Quinton all that much. While he wasn’t a bad person, he seemed a bit childish for his age. That being said, he did have some redeeming qualities. He stepped right in to help with the problems that were happening and it was obvious he cared about Annabelle from the beginning. I recommend.

I just love the word scoundrel. It offers up such an enticing image and definitely describes Quinn in this book. Quinn has been sent to help Annabelle find a suitable husband but he finds fault with each one because he can feel the attraction growing between them. Unfortunately, he is also the one that ruined her reputation years ago and that still haunts them. Annabelle needs a husband in order to inherit her estate and continue her life as she knows it. She turns to Quinn for help but finds herself depending on him for much more. This was a classic historical romance with that feeling of traditions and morals but mixed with a little drama and some sweet romance. The situations were entertaining and full of humor while the characters were engaging and charming.

I really liked this historical read. The story is fast paced with interesting characters with a chemistry that is steamy. Annabelle needs a husband or she will lose the only home she has ever known. Who better to help her find a husband than the man who seduced her and ruined her reputation, Quinn. Entertaining historical read.

A well written story that I did not want to put down. This is a twist on a marriage of convenience Annabelle Green needs a husband and fast she chooses Quinton Carlisle but he wants to help he find a husband not be one.The twists and turns in this story just kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

Harrington’s excellent writing coupled with sizzling chemistry and a bit of humor make for a great read – even while you want to shake both the hero and heroine until their teeth rattle.

Our heroine is Annabelle Green. Her father is a convicted thief and her mother was a housekeeper. She knew brutality and deprivation before her mother passed away and she became the ‘ward’ of Lord and Lady Ainsley when she was still very young. You’ll find out how that came about toward the end of the book. She was raised as a lady – except she wasn’t one. Lord and Lady Ainsley decided she should have a London season and hoped for a great match and they couldn’t understand why she was basically shunned. Well DUH! She was the low-born daughter of a thief – what did they expect. So, of course, there was a scandal at her very first ball. It wasn’t her fault – but it was a scandal nonetheless. In order to protect her, Lord Ainsley left the estate she had always lived on to her in his will – but she had to marry by her 25th birthday in order to inherit. Annabelle doesn’t want to marry but the will seems to be unbreakable, so it is either marry or lose the home she loves.

Quinn Carlisle is the third son of a Duke and his parents were a love match. He has vowed to never fall in love because he saw how his mother suffered after his father died in an accident. I do have to say that Quinn is not my favorite hero. I thought he came across as very selfish, self-centered and uncaring. Quinn doesn’t see any way he can stand on his own and be respected for who he is and what he has accomplished without leaving England, so he is on his way to America. He has totally forgotten that he caused the scandal that ruined Annabelle – and never even saw it as his fault (see selfish, self-centered and uncaring comment above).

Lady Ainsley has raised Annabelle since she was a small child and loves her like a daughter. Quinn is Lady Ainsley’s nephew, so he and Annabelle were around each other a lot as children. Lady Ainsley decides that Quinn needs to help find Annabelle a husband before her birthday since he is the one who caused the scandal in the first place.

I hope you will give this book a try. I think you’ll like it – even though you’ll want to give both the hero and heroine a good spanking before you are through reading it. That is just the mark of a writer and plot that pulls you into the story – if they weren’t good, you wouldn’t feel anything.

"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."