Six years ago, Quinton Carlisle kissed Annabelle Green in a garden, fought for her honor, and ruined her. The he went on his merry way. Now she needs his help. Belle is to inherit Glenarvon from her guardian, Lord Ainsley, on her twenty-fifth birthday. In order to inherit, though, she must be married. Lady Ainsley, Quinton’s aunt, calls him and his brother Robert to come to Glenarvon to help find a good husband for Belle. When Belle and Quinn are reunited, sparks fly. The two of them run all around the feelings they won’t admit they have for each other. Quinn wants to prove he can succeed on his own. Belle wants to own and run Glenarvon by herself. In the middle of all this, it appears there is villainy afoot on the estate. There are two questions to be answered. Is there a way to reconcile what they both need? Who is attempting to sabotage the estate?

When the Scoundrel Sins has strong characters that you get to know and an engaging story that holds your interest from start to finish. There is a lot going on, more than one point of interest, so to speak. Anna Harrington pulls it all together quite nicely. There is romance, humor, mystery, and a few twists and surprises. The dry, sometimes snarky dialogue between Belle and Quinn was wonderful. A good read, not to be missed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed it and the comments are my own.

As her twenty fifth birthday approaches Annabelle Green stands to lose the one place she has called home, Glenavon Castle, thanks to a clause in her inheritance that requires her to be married by that birthday or lose it to the Church. Third son Quinn Carlisle has given up his carefree ways now that he has committed to making his fortune in America by fulfilling a promise to his deceased father. When Quinn and his brother Robert are summoned by their Great Aunt to help Annabelle, her ward, find a suitable match the husband hunt heats up. Before long Quinn begins to realize that being caught by Annabelle might be the very thing he has been looking for in his life.

Anna Harrington brings unique nuances to all her stories, no two are alike, and that always makes her writing a wonderful experience. In When the Scoundrel Sins, book two in her Capturing the Carlisles series, the leads Annabelle and Quinn are equally appealing as they muddle through their feelings in a way that readers will be able to readily identify with. These two characters rushed in and lived in the moment even while they feared what the future held for them and suffered the consequences of their actions. This writer grounds her romances so that they seem obtainable to readers even in the face of the direst circumstances. Quinn oozed charm and confidence but there was a surprisingly thoughtful and responsible side to him underneath his roguish exterior. Annabelle was smart, witty and hard not to fall in love with as she refused to be cowed by her circumstances. Ms. Harrington did a fine job of evolving this pair's relationship from children who bedeviled each other to adults who adored one another. When the Scoundrel Sins brings all the best elements of a good historical romance together but ultimately it is Anna Harrington's sensitive writing that makes her work special.

The book opens six years in the past, at Annabelle’s London debut. Unfortunately, Quinton (Quinn) Carlisle couldn’t stop teasing his long-time acquaintance, leading to misunderstanding, scandal, and heartbreak. Fast forward to a month before Belle’s twenty-fifth birthday, by which she must marry, or lose her home and security.

Quinn is beguiled by Annabelle, and he loves to tease her to light her inner fire. He can’t explain why she holds such attraction to him. Seeing her now, six years older, he is taken aback by the woman she’s become. But Quinn is heading to America, to keep a promise he made to his deceased father, and he will never allow himself to fall in love anyhow.

Lady Ainsley, widowed caretaker and mother figure, wants love for Annabelle, but knows Belle’s security is more important. She wants/needs Annabelle to find a match, so she calls in her grand-nephew, Quinn, to help sort out proper suitors from fortune hunters, putting the pair together for the first time in six years.

I absolutely adored When a Scoundrel Sins and it’s two main characters, Belle and Quinn. It’s obvious to everyone but the pair, that they are two peas-in-a-pod and meant to be together. However, Quinn is so wrapped up in his fear of love that he uses his promise to go to America as a wedge to drive Belle away. Yet he’s so inexplicably enamored by Belle that he can’t stop touching her and sending other suitors away.

“But this, this wasn’t just a kiss. This was so much more.
“Those other kisses didn’t leave him trembling the way that he trembled now. They didn’t intoxicate him with the wild scent of the highlands and heather. They didn’t leave his gut twisting into knots and his head spinning, or make the the world fall away until he was aware only of the warm sweetness of her breath tickling at his lips, her soft body leaning into his in innocent invitation. But Belle’s kisses did just that.”

The boy has it bad but refuses to acknowledge his love. Then there is Belle who knows she has feelings for Quinn, but keeping her home is more important than a marriage based on love. She tries to convince Quinn that they should marry for convenience - she’d even let him go to America - but he’s so stubborn. So she continues looking for a man who will let her manage her own estate. I absolutely love how Quinn and Belle banter, flirt, and push back and forth. It’s so obvious they are in love, yet refuse to give into their feelings. This sets up for some highly emotional scenes, which pulled on my heart, giving me all the feels.


When a Scoundrel Sins is another wonderful story in the Capturing the Carlisles series. I adore Quinn and Belle, and absolutely love the feelings - their fears and passion - infused into the characters. The author so beautifully put these emotions out there, making them real and connecting me to the characters. When a Scoundrel Sins is a must read!

My Rating: A, Loved It

When The Scoundrel Sins is the second sinfully good title in rising star Anna Harrington’s fabulous series, Capturing the Carlisles! Sexy, smouldering and sensational, When The Scoundrel Sins is a poignant historical romance readers are going to devour!

Six years ago, Annabelle Green had been the victim of a foolish and childish prank that had cost her her reputation and any chance she had of making a good match. Incensed and embarrassed, Belle had been unable and unwilling to live with the shame, so she had vowed to turn her back on the Ton and live in perfect solitude by herself in Scotland. Belle has never quite managed to put the shameful incident behind her, however, she cannot imagine ever leaving her beloved home or sharing her life with anyone else, but it looks like that might be a likely prospect when the contents of a family will are revealed and she realises that she stands to lose everything – unless she weds. But what man in his right mind is going to marry someone with a tarnished reputation like hers? But there is one man who is duty bound to rescue her from her predicament – the one man who had ruined her – the rakish and reckless Quinton Carlisle!

Quinn has spent most of his life in his brother’s shadow – and he is sick to the back teeth of it! He is desperate to make a name for himself and to prove to the world that he is capable of standing on his own feet, so when he receives a letter promising adventure on the Scottish border, he is intrigued – only to find on arrival that the person promising the world to him is none other than the bluestocking whom he had relished teasing, Belle Green. But in the last six years, Belle has matured. She is no longer the shy and bookish girl whom he had humiliated, but a strong and independent woman who has come up with the most daring proposition he has ever heard: marriage! Quinn’s first instinct is to refuse, but the more he thinks about it, the more tempting the idea of being Belle’s husband becomes!…

Will Quinn end up saving Belle’s home and heart in the process? Or is theirs a relationship that simply cannot be?

Anna Harrington writes compelling and captivating historical romances and When The Scoundrel Sins is a wonderfully written and enthralling tale with a fantastic heroine, a gorgeous hero and plenty of drama, passion and emotion to keep readers hooked!

A fantastic tale that readers will struggle to put down, When The Scoundrel Sins is a must-read for fans of involving, well-written and hugely enjoyable historical romance!

3.5 Stars

Annabelle "Belle" Green is the daughter of a housekeeper and a thieving wastrel who eventually ended up in prison, leaving them penniless. Fortunately, they are brought into the household of Lord and Lady Ainsley, a kind and caring couple, who keep Belle on as a companion after her mother dies. They love Belle and treat her like a daughter, even going so far as to provide a season for her. But Lady Ainsley's nephew, Quinton Carlisle, continues his teasing and tormenting of Belle at her first ball, stealing a kiss, then getting into a fight over her. Belle's position in society had been precarious, at best, but now she's ignored by everyone due to the ensuing scandal.

Quinton has always loved teasing Belle, nicknaming her "Bluebell," because she has bluestocking tendencies and always had her nose in a book. When he sees her grown up, he can't resist stealing a kiss, not realizing the repercussions that his actions would cause. Now, six years later, he's summoned by his aunt to Glenavon Castle, one of the late Lord Ainsley's estates. It seems that Lord Ainsley bequeathed the estate to Belle, but only on condition that she marry by age twenty-five or it will be given to the church. Lord Ainsley's intention was solely to protect Belle from her crooked father, but now she's rapidly approaching her birthday, and has a decided lack of suitors. Lady Ainsley's hope is that Quinton will marry Belle, but she tells him that she needs his help to weed out unsuitable prospective husbands. Quinton is on the brink of traveling to America to start a new life, but he agrees to his aunt's request to stay.

Belle and Quinton immediately feel the same attraction that caused all the trouble six years ago, and Quinton still acts like a naughty schoolboy who never grew up, teasing and annoying and tempting Belle. Quinton's plans to go to America are actually his first steps toward maturity. He's the third son of a duke, and wants to distance himself from his father's name and make it on his own. There is an estate waiting for him, where he can succeed or fail on his own merit. When Belle learns his plans, she decides to propose to him. He could run Glenavon Castle with her, still fulfilling his dream, or, if he wants, she's even agreeable to his going to America. She is crushed when Quinton turns her down, emphasizing that he will never marry.

Although I can understand both Belle's and Quinton's motivations and reasoning, their stubbornness did become tedious. Quinton refuses to marry, even though he greatly desires Belle, and this marriage will give him a home and estate. He fears love may come intruding, and he's seen how losing a loved one can hurt. Also, the estate would really be Belle's - never his. So he continues to drive away all prospective suitors before Belle even has a chance to meet them. As for Belle, she finally decides to give in and marry a fortune hunter, a man she feels no liking or respect for, just so that she will have a home, even though it would be under her husband's control.

As Belle's birthday draws closer, it feels impossible that this couple will ever be together, other than for a temporary, passionate affair. Will a dramatic event be enough to shake them up, and open their hearts to what they truly feel and what's really important? WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS concludes with a resolution that I found satisfying, and which gives both Belle and Quinton what they each need, and so much more.

Well I had wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I loved book one, If the Duke Demands, so I was hoping this would be just as good.  There were some good that happened in this book, but unfortunately there was a lot that just did not work for me.

First the good- the book is well written. I like Anna Harrington's writing style! There was a few sizzling scenes and some quite funny ones too!

Now the rest- both Quinn and Belle drove me nuts! They're mixed signals just ticked me off! Either you want her-or you don't!! We get the gist that Annabelle is a bluestocking-so she reads a lot. You would think she is an intelligent, strong woman-especially running an estate, but no. She totally turns into this puppy dog around Quinn. It was such a contradiction! And Quinn, you ask? Well, what a childish and somewhat selfish man! The push me, pull me he does with Belle, was too much. He wanted to help her, but couldn't do it. His reasons, in my opinion, were weak. I wanted to ring his neck! It goes back and forth throughout this entirely too long book,  I really liked them together, but they just couldn't find their footing so the story went sideways for me.

I do want to read the next book in the Capturing the Carlisles series as it is Robert's story.  I hope it's as good as book one!

reviewed by Deb

Annabelle Greene is turning 25 in a month and must marry. Marriage is the only way to get hold of her inheritance, her beloved Castle Glenarvon, bequeathed to her by the Late Lord Ainsley, with the stipulation that she must marry before her 25th birthday, otherwise the Castle will become the property of the church.
Lady Ainsley, the Dowager Viscountess, sought out the help of Quentin Carlisle, her great-nephew, to aid Belle to search for a husband. Quinn is the scoundrel who ruined Belle's reputation and the reason she eschewed London and has been rusticating in Cumbria for the last six years.
None of the suitors was good enough for Quinn's Bluebell and he also turned down her marriage proposal despite their deep affection and physical & sexual attraction for each other. Neither of them are willing to be united in wedlock.
Annabelle's first few years of childhood was harrowing. Quentin deserves a second chance. Belle and Quinn are entitled to their happy-ever-after.
There are a few scandals, shocks, secrets, suspense and surprises in this wonderful story.
This is another brilliant read from Anna Harrington. She is definitely getting better every time.
I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher. This is my impartial review.

✦Review, Q&A, Excerpt & Giveaway: WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS by Anna Harrington http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-9B3
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 4 Stars

This was such a fun historical romance! I really enjoyed it. WHEN A SCOUNDREL SINS is the second book in Anna Harrington's Capturing the Carlisles series, but you do not need to read the first book before picking up this one. Each book is a standalone and I haven't read the first book. WHEN A SCOUNDREL SINS was a fun and sexy historical romances with likeable characters. I wanted to shake the characters a few times when they weren't doing what I wanted them to, but I loved them. The chemistry Quinton and Annabelle was sizzling and I enjoyed their journey to happily ever after. It's a great book to curl up with and get lost in for a while. I recommend this book for romance lovers looking for a fun historical romance. I'll definitely be picking up Anna Harrington's future releases.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mayfair, London - 1816

Annabelle (Belle) Green, age 18, has just kissed Quentin (Quinn) Carlisle in the garden of her coming out party. Belle has been brought up in Lord and Lady Ainsley’s home and has known Quinn since she was a child. He is Lady Ainsley’s nephew. Belle knows that Quinn is a handsome scoundrel who turns many lady’s heads. Realizing how foolish she was to kiss him, Belle stumbles as she turns away from him, tripping and tearing the bodice of her dress. When she is then seen by several gossips, she is ruined.

Cumbria, England - 1822

Belle is living with the now widowed Lady Ainsley and serving as her companion. They are staying at Castle Glenarvon not far from the Scottish border. Belle has always loved Glenarvon and looks forward to her 25th birthday in one month when she will receive her inheritance of Glenarvon from the late Lord Ainsley. But there is a problem. She must be married to inherit the property or it will go to the church.

Lady Ainsley has planned a party inviting all the eligible young men of the area. Hopefully, Belle will meet someone she cares for enough to marry. Also invited is Quinn because he knows what to look for and can help her choose the best person. Afterward, he plans to emigrate to America to live.

While at Glenarvon, some incidents occur that cause damage to the property. Worried that Belle could be in danger, Quinn is determined to get to the bottom of it. The togetherness of Belle and Quinn sparks an attraction but Quinn knows he must leave for America.

Can Quinn truly turn his back on Belle and leave her? Is there a way for them to stay together?

This is a delightful story of the true meaning of love and I know readers will enjoy every page of the book. Don’t miss it.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Awesomeness in every single page! 💕

Annabelle Green has always been in love with Quinton Carlisle ever since she was eighteen and he a young man of twenty one when he kissed her. Her first delicious soul altering kiss. Then her life went spiralling uncontrollably to her ruin, that was six years ago. Now Annabelle needs to marry if she's to keep her home Castle Glenarvon. According to the stipulation in Lord Ainsley's will she needs to marry on her twenty fifth birthday or her home reverts to the church.
Four weeks to find a husband and marry! Her situation couldn't becoming more desperate when Lady Ainsley mentioned that Quinton Carlisle the man who so enjoyed to taunt and tease her just to get her ire when they were younger, was on his way to help her find a suitable husband!

Quinton Carlisle has never forgotten about Annabelle Green, the kiss was the most memorable that he's ever had, and he's had his fair share of kisses. Life was good for him planning to start new in America his plans are waylaid by his
great-aunts summons. Instead of a fair well he's proposed to by Belle! He doesn't want to marry he's seen what marriage and emotions do to the ones who have loved and left behind, it nearly killed his mother when his father was taken from her...same for his great-aunt.
But what can he do when all he wants to do is relive that kiss and then some.
Belle has turned into a beautiful woman and she's creating havoc with his feelings. But marriage never, not him he'll offer her his help but not his heart.

A well written story and great addition to the series. Sizzling chemistry between Quinton and Belle. Witty dialogue between the characters and the story just flew, this was a most enjoyable story and I can't wait to see what's in store for Robert. Very well done Anna Harrington!

I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher through NetGalley for my honest unbiased opinion.

When Annabelle Greene needed to marry to keep her inheritance, the only man she’s ever considered was Quinton Carlisle, AKA, the man who ruined her reputation six years ago. But Annabelle is desperate. If she doesn’t marry before her 25th birthday, she’ll lose the only inheritance she has, putting her future in jeopardy.
The only problem is Quinn isn’t interested in marriage, no matter how tempting Annabelle is. He already has a plan: sail to America, make his fortune there and make his family proud and a marriage to Annabelle would put an end to his plan. So when Annabelle proposed to him, he rejected her. He did offer to help her find a suitable person for her to marry.
But Quinn quickly finds out that it’s hard to find a suitable suitor for someone you want for yourself. And Quinn wants Anabelle. He wants her and none of her suitors seems suitable enough. Despite their raging attraction to each other, Quinn and Annabelle continue to stubbornly resist one another. It’s clear from the get go that Quinn would end up marrying Annabelle but the book went through great lengths to make Quinn as stubborn as a mule.
So even though I enjoyed the story overall, I couldn’t help but feel a tad frustrated with how long it took them to come together. It was frustrating and annoying. I was disappointed with Quinn because there were so many instances where he could’ve manned up and marry Anabelle. But nope. He was so set in his ways that he refused to even consider marrying her because he already has a plan.
He did realize in the end what needed to be done and we got our HEA. But yeah, the book could’ve used a little less frustration in that area. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book a lot. I read it and couldn’t put it down.

This book was all kinds of sinful deliciousness! Belle and Quinn were compelling and captivating characters with TONS of chemistry. The plot moved along at just the right pace, as did the relationship between Belle and Quinn. I love second chances at romance and happily ever after, and this book served up a heaping helping of both on a swoon-worthy silver platter. Another Harrington home run!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2107227339
https://www.amazon.com/review/R6L2MF0D3I2YJ/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8

I have to say When the Scoundrel Sins was a fairly fast read and a little heart-breaking. Quinton has a bit of a hero complex, you see it in the prologue. So, he gets offended when they start making fun of Annabelle. Now Belle knows her place, so tries to get Quinton to leave the situation along, but the hero complex gets in the way basically ruining any chance of a good marriage. She basically saves him from marrying her. Jump ahead to where time is running out and she needs to find a husband to save her from losing her home. One and simple way would be Quinn marrying her righting the wrong and they live separate lives. Sounds like the ideal situation for Quinn, but the man is stubborn and refuses. We see the beginning of the husband hunt. Quinn and his brother Robbert scare off any guy who isn't going to make a good match for Belle in four weeks. Totally sounds like a simple task.

Anyway, I like how the story is broken-down. Every few chapters we see how much time is left until Belle's wedding announcement. She's kind of moping around, but who can blame her. She started off at 18 with the world waiting to be taken over by her, but as she approaches 25 she sees everything that was her security slowly crumbling. You have Quinn doing everything in his power to save her, without getting leg-shackled. One of the main reason's he doesn't want to get married is he doesn't want to find love. Quinn is a stubborn guy when it comes to his logic of love. I truly felt for Belle, because she loves the land and her people, and is willing to sacrifice herself to save them all. Belle and Quinn have a lot in common, but when you first see them together you don't see it until the story starts to unfold.

I can go on and on about this story. There are so many demissions to When the Scoundrel Sins. Like I said it's a fairly fast read, that you want to know what is going to happen to Belle and Quinn. I seriously thought Quinn wasn't going to get his head out of his butt. Fortunately, he manages to get it out there and realize everything he wants is still in England. When The Scoundrel Sins has a great balance of emotion and humor. Quinn and Belle seem to get egg one another on, but it's kind like their foreplay. Overall, a pretty good read that I couldn't put down.

Copy provided by Forever Romance via NetGalley

WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS is book two in Anna Harrington's Capturing the Carlisles series. In the prologue to this tangled tale, Anna Harrington details how Quinton Carlisle epically screwed up when it comes to Annabelle Green. The disaster that happens isn't entirely Quinton's fault, but Annabelle forever associates Quinton with her humiliation and social ruin. The main story takes place six years after their last encounter and has Quinton in a position to help Annabelle when she is in desperate need of it. This is a great story for readers who enjoy a "second chance" love story.

This story exemplifies the struggles that women had in the 1800s. In order to get her rightful inheritance, Annabelle must marry. If she doesn't marry and get her inheritance, she will be dependent on the charity of friends and other loved ones, as well as losing everything she has worked for. When Quinton shows up, Annabelle finds him to be a very inconvenient hero and is more than a little annoyed at having to use him. There are definite sparks between Annabelle and Quinton, but the passion vacillates between eroticism, frustration, and anger on Annabelle's part. Having this story told from alternating perspectives makes the main characters easier to empathize with. Annabelle's position is the easiest to understand. For years, she has done the hard work of running an estate only to have the rug pulled out from under her unless she marries quickly. Quinton is a little bit more of an enigma -- perhaps especially to himself. The mystery that Anna Harrington throws into WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS, gives Quinton the opportunity to show a greater level of maturity and act more like a hero than merely be a reformed scoundrel.

WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS has a man who gets a second chance to be a hero, and a woman who is surprised by love. Part of WHEN THE SCOUNDREL SINS seems like a fairy tale in reverse, but Annabelle is a heroine with backbone and Quinton eventually proves himself worthy of being a hero and Annabelle's partner. There is a twist at the end of this story to shake things up. I look forward to reading Anna Harrington's next book.

When the Scoundrel Sins is just as good as those books were but I must admit that I was a bit upset how long it took our hero to own up to his deeds and do his best to atone for them.

I mean, it's not that our heroine was awful or unlovable, on the contrary, she was pretty and those two got along really well so I never understood him and his hesitance to do the right thing. I know, I know, rogues and their likes but...actually - no, that's no excuse. At least not in my eyes. They knew each other all their lives and it was Quinton's fault that she was ruined, I would have expected him to be there for her, no matter how shocking the idea of marriage might be. Sooooo.... despite him being a wonderful character, it took me some time to really like Quinton.

Reading about Annabelle and her desperate search for a husband made me mumble some choice words concerning the times, the society and the lack of rights and, well, you get my meaning, right? Reading books set in those times, makes me realize again and again how different our lives are now and how much we take for granted.

Apart from that, the book has an interesting and well-developed plot, great characters (even if the one or the other needs a little kicking to become great and act according to it) and is a highly enjoyable read that I can recommend.

When The Scoundrel Sins by Anna Harrington is book #2 in the Capturing the Carlisles series. It can totally be read as a standalone book. Book is very well written, has a good storyline and complex characters. I found myself feeling sympathetic and frustrated by the characters. Annabelle Green is likable, strong and a survivor. Her one true weakness is Quinton Carlisle. Unfortunately, this means that she is not as strong, smart or even as likable when around him. Quinn is an egotistical, self centered and a rake. Even though I loved the whole childhood antagonism, that turns into an adult antagonism that cloaks affection and attraction between these characters. It was hard to move past Quinn's true lack of accepting and owning the ramifications of his actions and needling words over the course of their relationship from childhood to adult. I did enjoy this book and it is a good read and addition to this series. But, in my heart even with a HEA I felt that Annabelle and Quinn deserved more. More of an understanding of one another, more dealing with the baggage of the past to ensure a bright love filled future and more genuine love and affection, not just attraction and chemistry . I am posting an honest review after reading an ARC copy of this book.

When The Scoundrel Sins is book 2 of the Capturing The Carlisles series. I did read the first book and yes I did love it so of course I couldn't wait to get my hands on When the Scoundrel Sins.

I did enjoy this book but just not as much as the first one but it was a good read even though at some points i just wanted to shake Quintin and Annabelle.

All in all it was good and yes I will be reading the next book in the series.

I give this 3 1/2 out of 5.

when the scoundrel sins is one of those books where it's clear to everyone except the main characters that they are head over heels for one another. annabelle and quinton have a tumultous history that goes back to her debut season, or actually to a time before that, where he constantly teased her and she thought the worst of him.

and then he kisses her and she freaks out and then society stumbles in on them at the worst possible moment. there was never going to be a way to recover from that, though annabelle holds a grudge for quinton fighting to defend her honor and he's never apologized because honestly it doesn't make sense for him to apologize for the fight. he doesn't feel guilty about it and i'm still not clear on why that was something he needed to apologize for.

it's six years later and annabelle has to marry in order to inherit her home. she proposes a marriage of convenience to quinton but he won't do it. he's got his reasons and they are semi-valid, but also he's so stupidly in love with her that it's clear he won't marry her for convenience's sake. if he marries her it has to be a real marriage but that isn't what she wants.

so then he has to go through the motions of vetting all the candidates for her hand. while her neighbor sir harold stakes his specific claim while being an all-around jerk to pretty much everyone. he's not even on the page for all that much but whenever he is, he's like this mustache twirling villain. it's surprising that annabelle thinks he's so harmless.

anyway, it gets to a point where quinton is ready to marry annabelle and she won't have him because he won't say he loves her. he is terrified of love. but the fact of the matter is that they are being utter idiots because it's so freaking obvious that they love each other. his love for her is so apparent, i don't understand why she needs the exact words. he's more freaked out by the fact that she loves him than by what he actually feels for her. for the most part this is an enjoyable regency, annabelle and quinton have crazy amounts of chemistry, and their friendship makes their romantic relationship even more special, but they are also frustratingly stupid about things at the end. which is why it loses a star for me.

As you can tell from my review of Anna Harrington’s If the Duke Demands, the first book in this series, I flippin loved that book and thought it was a fun and charming standout from the slew of rather interchangeable historical romance novels I have been reading recently. I have been keeping my eye out for the next book in the series and I was tickled pink to be offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was even more delighted to realize it would be Quin’s story! I thought he was much more interesting than Robert in the first book and was excited to see what sort of lady would capture him.

But, I gotta say, maybe it was hoping too much that the second book would live up to the first book. Maybe my expectations were too high. But, this one just didn’t do anything for me. There was no obvious fairytale retelling component (am I missing this entirely?). There was none of the excitement or verve that Miranda had during her debut season. Annabelle, the heroine in this story, just comes off as desperate, timid, and clingy. I didn’t even read her as a bluestocking, more just as someone willing to do what was needed to help her estate. The biggest issue I had with her, though, was that she KNEW what the stipulations of her inheritance were. She KNEW she had to marry before she turned 25. So, why hadn’t she sucked it up, moved on, and found someone to marry? Anyone! One of the workers on the estate would have sufficed! Marrying for love is all well and good, but you also need to put yourself out there in order to meet someone and it seems like she lived a quiet, country life on her estate for those six years between the *ahem* incident and when this story takes place. So, the timeline of the story just becomes a cringeworthy, out of character, plot device. Le sigh.

So, with Annabelle being an ostrich, burying her head in the sand to avoid her problems, we are left to deal with Quinn. And, I do mean deal with. Because, ugh, he’s just a bundle of yuck. He is obnoxious in soooo many ways, mostly based in his lack of self-awareness or being stubborn. He’s afraid of love because it always ends and leads to pain. He refuses to accept his part in ruining Annabelle’s marriage prospects. He runs off all her prospective husbands, while at the same time trying to get in her pants. And, he clings to the idea of starting his own life in America while ignoring his friends and family telling him he can do that by marrying Annabelle. Can he really be that obtuse? Obviously, since he eventually relents on every single one of these issues and we get our HEA.

So, when you combine Annabelle and Quin, as well as the deadline to marry writing trope, you can basically guess the rest of the storyline. It isn’t new or groundbreaking. And, to me, unlike the charming and engaging take on tried and true historical romance fodder that If the Duke Demands, When the Scoundrel Sins just comes off as another entry in the list of forgettable books on the market. But, I still love Anna Harrington’s writing style and I have HIGH hopes for the next book in the series, Robert’s story. I liked him more during this book than I thought he would and I can’t wait to see if he gets Diana or another girl in his installment.

'When the Scoundrel Sins' by Anna Harrington is Book Two in the "Capturing the Carlisles" series. This is the story of Annabelle 'Belle' Green and Quinton Carlisle. I have read the previous book (and Loved It!) but do feel this is easily a standalone book.
Belle was a homeless daughter of Lord Ainsley housekeeper who died, Belle's father was a in prison. Lord and Lady Ainsley loved her and treated her with love and she became a lady's companion for them and their daughters. Quinton is Lord and Lady Anisley great nephew and Belle has known him since she was 10 years old. Belle is a Bluestocking and Quinton always teased her but they did have a friendship. When she was 19 years old and she was having a coming out ball of sorts she and Quinton kissed. When she pressed Quinton why he kissed her at first he said it was a joke but it was not joke for Belle. It broke her heart and when she tried to get away she fell and tore her. Then she ended up be seen by some busy body ladies and her reputation was pretty much gone. Belle had talked Lord Anisley was going to force Quinton to marry her but Belle asked him not to. Belle knew how bad her parents marriage was without love and she doesn't want that.
Now about six years later after the incident she will be turning 25 and the Castle Glenarvon which has been the only home she knew could be hers if she married before her 25 birthday. Lord Anisley thought he was doing a kindness in leaving the home to her with the thought if she married her father nor anyone else could take it away. But Lord Anisley as pasted and his wife has asked that Quinton come visit they before he leaves for good to America. Lady Anisley thinks Quinton can help Belle find a husband.
This was another Lovely Book by Ms. Harrington! Loved Quinton and Belle's story!

Capturing the Carlisles Series:,
Book 0.5: How the Duke Stole Christmas,
Book 1 : If the Duke Demands,
Book 2: When the Scoundrel Sins,
Book 3: As the Devil Dares,
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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