I really enjoyed Aurora and Lucas's story. You've got a bit of intrigue thrown into our romance story which is always a plus in my book.

Aurora was attracted to Lucas when she had her coming out, but her once dance with him made her believe that he didn't like her in the least. So when she ends up taking a position as his mother's companion, she sees a side of him that she didn't glimpse during their short interlude.

Lucas has been attracted to Aurora since their one dance so long ago, but being tongue tied during their dance didn't leave a very good impression. He is about to get engaged, but the more time he spends with Aurora, he just doesn't find the time to speak to girl's father.

Being thrown together makes Aurora and Lucas see each other in a new light. Can they find their HEA with each other?

Intriguing, Witty & Entertaining Romance! This is my first story by Olivia Drake and it definitely wont be my last. This story was filled with scandal, blackmail, intrigue, and danger. But what really brings it to life is the witty dialogue, the attraction, passion and love, of the main characters. Incredibly well written, with well developed characters, that felt so real, and who's story captured and held my attention until the end.
Blackmail with the possibility of scandal to their family’s, brings these two together, to find the letters that were stolen. But witty conversations, past desires and a pair or magic slippers just might be enough to bring Rory and Lucas together. But will it be enough to bring them love? Time will tell, as danger and betrayal, just might be enough to help them realize what is in their hearts. This story is entertaining, intriguing and quite the adventure. You will be wrapped up into this fantastic story. The romance sizzles, the suspense builds, and the ending is thoroughly satisfying. Loved this Story!
Received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily wrote an honest review

aurora paxton left london in disgrace eight years before the events in the scandalous flirt. at the time she had no idea what lucas vale, lord dashell thought of her, though given his attitude the one time they danced, she figured he found her contemptible.

turns out that lucas has quite the poker face, because back then all he wanted was to bask in the heat of rory's smile. lucas and rory dance around their attraction as they search for a packet of letters that would implicate rory's stepmother and lucas's father. the truth hidden in those letters proves to be quite the bombshell. one that highlights a lot of the hypocrisy in the attitudes of victorian society.

rory is an independent-minded female and her strength of mind and beliefs contrast nicely with lucas's innate sense of decorum and his fair-mindedness. he is more accepting of things than he actually appears to be, in part because he's been born and bred and a key member of society and in part because his prudishness is a reaction to his father's debauchery.

but the more time rory and lucas spend together the harder it is to deny their connection. the problem then is how will they ever be able to afford running off together. especially given how british society at the time was particularly transactional. i just complained about the feminism in the bride that got lucky, but the social commentary in the scandalous flirt is so much more effective. rory doesn't shy away from her beliefs, but she's also a realist. she knows and understands how society works, she doesn't agree with it, but she also isn't petulant about it. this makes it much easier to read.

What's not to love about a romance with some scandal!!! A tightlaced Marquees, scandalous spinster, blackmail, passionate tension, and a little more scandal make for a fun read!! I loved Rory's strong nature to stand tall even against a society who shunned her and Lucas is an honorable man who wants to do the best for his title....boy do these two collide!!!

The Scandalous Flirt by Olivia Drake is book Six in the "Cinderella Sisterhood" series. This is the story of Aurora Paxton and Lucas Vale, Marquess of Dashell. I have read the previous book but feel this is easily a standalone book .
After a terrible mistake Aurora was shunned from the town and her family. But now she is being called back home to help with an issue that has come forward. It seems her step mother is being blacked mailed and her much loved half sister may be hurt by the scandal if not stopped.
Lucas was a hard hero to love for sure. He is out to get himself a heiress to save his estate but yet he keeps going toward Aurora. But at the same time he is really harsh with Aurora. But through it all they do end up finding their ending.
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I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for my honest review


The Scandalous Flirt was an outstanding book and the characters with their problems

Aurora (Rory) Paxton return to London after a years Long exile discovering her step mother is being blackmailed.Aurora returns to find out who’s is blackmail her step mother and her sister but not everything is that it seems

Lucas and Aurora find to who’s blackmailing and then things happen

Won’t ruin anything else for you guys

I was delighted to find that The Scandalous Flirt was a bit of a unique take on common historical romance tropes. You have a dash of matchmaking magic/fairy godmother, a hint of scandal and a possibly ruined woman, a cheating lady, a broke lord, and a mystery!

Rory (Aurora) is a enchanting heroine. She had her debut in the Ton and then promptly engaged in a scandalous outing with an Italian diplomat. As quickly as it started, her season ended and she was shipped off to a coastal town to live with an aunt. 8 years pass and Rory has made peace with her life. She is called back to London to help her awful stepmother, who is being blackmailed. Rory isn't inclined to help the woman who has been so cruel to her, but its a chance to get some much needed money and possibly save her sister from a horrible marriage proposal. This gets her mixed up with Lord Dashell and things get interesting. Dashell, a marquess who inherited his rakish father's gambling debts, has to marry for money. He has found the perfect mark, but just hasn't asked for her hand. He remembers Rory from her 1 partial season and still finds her very alluring. They form a tentative partnership to find the blackmailer.

The plot is filled with so many facets! Celeste, Rory's sister, is engaged to an awful man so you are hopefully Rory will find a way to save her sister. Then there is the blackmail. Who is it? Why? Next you have this mysterious 'fairy godmother' type with her magic slippers who is a renowned matchmaker. Add in Rory's super sketchy stepmother and the staff at the house and you have lots of mysteries and entertainment! The slow burn between Rory and Dashell is delicious as well, even though he is a jerk to her early on. If you enjoy historical romances which have a smart heroine who isn't perfect, you will adore Rory. She recognizes how naive she was during her first season. She has accepted that her actions were a mistake and she has found a way to be happy with her life; maybe even happier than she would have been had she stayed in London and married! Dashell wasn't my favorite heroine. He is ready to marry a girl for her money, his is quite cranky and dour, and he isn't swoon worthy. However, his brother Henry was hilarious! He is the total opposite of Dashell-Henry is charming, light hearted, and suave.

Bottom line: The Scandalous Flirt was a refreshing historical romance with a well crafted plot and interesting characters all around!
Link Live on 10/30/17

It’s been some time since I have read a book by this author. This is book 6 of the Cinderella Sisterhood series. This is easily a standalone story. Thanks goes to the publisher and Net-Galley for an advance copy of The Scandalous Flirt.

While the pacing is good, I struggled with it. The plot is a bit weak and heavy on mystery and weak on romance. For most of the book, they detest each other and only tolerate being together because they are trying to solve the mystery of who is blackmailing Aurora’s silly step-mother.

Aurora’s character did not come across as a flirt at all to me. I guess the title reflected the scandal she was involved in during her first season. While Aurora doesn’t like her step-mother, she loves her half-sister and doesn’t want her touched by scandalous as it had her in her first season. That is an admirable goal, but other than that, I did not care for her character very much.

Lucas is not a hero I could love or even like. He is rude to Aurora, and it makes no sense that he was in love with her eight years before. If that was the case, why did he forget about her? I found his character very disappointing. All through the book, he is pursuing an heiress so he can save his estate from ruin, not an admirable aspect of his character.

The romance is practically non-existent. At 60% into the book I was still waiting for the first kiss! At that point, I expected this to follow along the pattern of older, traditional regencies with the kiss being the climax to the love story. Imagine my surprise when they end up in bed toward the end of the book. For me, there was no chemistry between this duo.

Now, the mystery aspect of the story. While did keep the pacing going, it was a bit predictable to me. There were a few surprises along the way, but not enough to support the book.

The most enjoyable part of this tale is the friendship between Rory’s aunt and Lucas’s mother. They added a delightful touch to this story. The banter between these two ladies is enchanting and lively.

Nonetheless, The Scandalous Flirt is well-written, so I was able to give it 3.5 stars. If you’re looking for a mystery with a splash of romance, then this book may appeal to you more than it did for me. Happy reading!

Aurora has been unfairly labeled as a Scandalous Flirt and, as punishment, banished to her aunt’s home at the back of beyond. She may be down, but she isn’t out! Olivia Drake writes a charming Cinderella tale of a step-daughter who is visited by a kindly godmother. All this Cinderella needs is a little help, though. She is perfectly able to rescue herself, and her prince charming, and several beloved family members at the same time. Great fun!

The Scandalous Flirt by Olivia Drake
Cinderella Sisterhood #6

Loosely based on a number of fairytales I noticed:
*Magic Slippers (Ruby Colored)
*Spinning wheel with sharp finger pricking spindle
*Evil stepmother
*Stepsister (not as evil as Cinderella’s)
*Fairy Godmother type person
*A woman that reminded me of the bedridden woman in the Pollyanna movie
*And perhaps more

This story was entertaining but not terribly deep with Aurora “Rory” Paxton being banished to the country for an indiscretion. She was away for almost a decade before being brought back to solve a mystery. She finds her sister betrothed to a person she has no business ending up with, the clueless stepmother, the guy that is not really prince charming but an okay guy, a few balls to attend, the man she was indiscreet reappearing, a blackmailing plot…and more…I did not relate to any of the characters…not really…but did finish the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3 Stars

Our matchmaker, Lady Clarissa Milford has found another young woman who needs the special slippers.
Miss Aurora Paxton was sent to the country in disgrace eight years ago. Now she has been asked to help the very woman who sent her away.
Lucas Vale, the Marquess of Dashell has a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders. He desperately need a large infusion of funds. The only way he can see through it is to marry an heiress.
Our heroine is a very intelligent lady with a mystery to solve. Being back in London is going to bring many memories for her, some better than others.
Our hero is trying to sort out his finances, the last thing he needs is more trouble.
A marvellous historical romp. Lots of fun and adventure for our characters and us. It is part of a series relating to the shoes, but each is a stand alone story. I now need to go a find the others. I loved every page. A beautiful lighthearted read.

I am sorry to say that I have never had the pleasure of reading an Olivia Drake novel before. And boy, have I missed out on this pleasure. After reading "The Scandalous Flirt" I will be sure to read more of her work. I loved the premise of this series, a widow who is now on a mission to play cupid- with the help of a pair is silk garnet slippers- she is helping along couples fall in love. In this book she is bringing together a ruined woman and a poor aristocrat. They may have met 8 years ago, but it seems that Lucas and Rory have unfinished business.

Aurora Paxton was banished from society when she was caught in a rather compromising position with her lover, a lover that she had no idea was married. Having to leave her family and life in London behind, she has been living with her old aunt in Norfolk pinching pennies and trying to make the most of her life. That is until she is summoned to London by her stepmother Kitty to help discover the identity of the person who has been blackmailing her with old love letters. Kitty is convinced that the person behind this crime is Lucas Vale- Lord Dashell. Lucas is not only in dire need of funds but he also happens to be the son of Kitty's late lover. Rory remembers Lucas from her debutante days as a serious and cold man. What she soon discovers is a whole new man who brings out her passionate side.

Lucas needs to marry an heiress and marry one quick. Having inherited not only the title but all his father's debts, he needs to save his family from going to the poorhouse. He's always had an intense attraction to Rory, but he could never see himself with such a lively woman and after her ruin in the hands of her Italian lover, he never thought he would see her again. So when she applies to be his mother's companion, he unwillingly accepts. Knowing all along that he is playing with fire.

What ensues is a book full of intrigue and mystery where everyone seems to be suspicious and the attraction between Rory and Lucas seems to grow every second. This isn't a romance filled with numerous hot love scenes, but the constant heat between Rory and Lucas keeps you glued to your seat waiting anxiously for the moment that they will finally give in to reason. A beautifully written romance. Not to be missed!!

This is a fair and honest review in return for the privilege of receiving this ARC. Who defines what is scandalous? So many things can be misconstrued and often are. Really nice story which could continue unless I miss my guess. Definitely worth your money and time to read.

This turned out to be a delightfully unexpected story. First of all, the sexual tension in this book was off the charts! It reached a point where it was almost unbearable and it made the romance between Rory and Lucas absolutely sizzle! Their few stolen kisses were better than some sex scenes that I've read. On top of the romance was a great mystery! I loved the suspense surrounding Kitty's blackmailer and the intrigue that it gave this book. I absolutely adored headstrong Rory and swoony Lucas. Both were strong, well developed characters. The secondary characters were also fabulous and rounded out this story perfectly!

During her debut season, Aurora was involved in a scandal that nearly ruined her family. Rushed off to the country, she’s made a life for herself with the new ‘limited’ options, even as her tendency to speak her mind hasn’t changed much. But, a new scandal threatens her family, and she’s brought back to London to see if she can’t find a solution. Hired as a companion to the suspected blackmailer’s mother, Aurora will be singularly placed to find the culprit.

Lucas, newly minted Marquess of Dashell is struggling to keep things on track, with an heiress he’s courting and a rather mercenary approach to marriage and his own happiness being unimportant – he’s a bit of a cold fish, and not particularly engaging. But, it’s also very clear that he’s not the blackmailer that Aurora was led to believe, and their cooperation to find the real culprit is now aided and manipulated a touch by his mother and her aunt.

The second I’ve read in this series – the references to Sleeping Beauty are far between and more emotional in nature – the two are closed off from their emotions. He’s believing that emotion has no part in his life, hers are rather immature and erratic – and the two together have some moments that are clever –but miscommunication, his bad behavior and the overall feeling that these two were thrust together without really establishing either as a viable primary character was the overwhelming feeling I was left with. Both Rory’s aunt and Lucas’ mother were far more intriguing as people, and their determination to see the best for the couple was apparent – if not always apparent to readers. Quick reading, solid descriptions and clever twists to unveil the blackmailer, this was a decent read, but not imbued with the feeling that would leave me believing that love would conquer the differences between them, or that they were meant to be together forever.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-9qy/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

It’s magically delicious! Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. I had read some very negative reviews of this book so I started reading with some trepidation. Imagine my delight to find that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I didn’t interpret the things others had complained about in the same way they did. Yes, there were some things that weren’t acceptable for the Regency period, but she was ‘in disguise’ and she was already a ruined woman anyway.

Eight years ago, Aurora Paxton was a beautiful, lively, intelligent, romantic and very naïve young woman in the middle of her first season. She was always surrounded by a horde of admirers – until everything changed in the blink of an eye. She was caught in a compromising position with a man who had pursued her relentlessly – professing his love. Then, when they were caught and her father demanded marriage, they found out he was married. So, she was banished to live in a small cottage by the sea with her aunt. She was totally banished from society and her family as well.

So here I have to say that I think her father was a huge hypocrite. Aurora always speaks of him as being loving toward her, etc. but I cannot reconcile that with his treatment of Aurora. I can’t explain why I call him a hypocrite with spoiling a part of the story, but his treatment of her just didn’t ring true.

Lucas Vale, Marquess of Dashell, is deeply in debt thanks to his profligate father. All of his life he has done his best to distance himself from acting any way at all like his father. Most people viewed him as stodgy and cold because of his always perfect behavior. He also admired Aurora in that season, but from a distance, because he knew she was too lively and undisciplined to be the right woman for him. So, when the scandal engulfed her and she was shipped off, he wrote her out of his life.

The book blurb makes it sound like Lucas had concocted some wild scheme to bring Aurora back to London so he could rehabilitate her reputation. That is NOT the case. Lucas had nothing to do with bringing her back – he has to marry for money and had already picked out the heiress he planned to make an offer for.

In the first couple of chapters you have – a fairy godmother, a prick from the spindle of a spinning wheel, ruby slippers, and a wicked step-mother. What a mixture of fairy tales. But – after that, those references clear up and it is on to a nice story.

I liked Lucas and Aurora, but Lucas drove me nuts sometimes. I do understand why he kept clinging to marrying the heiress – she was the only way to pay his debts, save his estates and provide for his mother and brother. The poor boy really was caught between a rock and a hard place!

There was an HEA for Aurora’s younger sister included in the book and that was nice. What I wish had also been in the story had been an HEA for Lucas’ brother – maybe with the heiress Lucas was planning to marry and an Epilogue set a year or two later. It would be nice to see the couples and their growing families.

"I requested and received this e-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."

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Scandalous Flirt isn't the first book in this series that I have read but one of the things that I enjoyed about this book was that you did not need to read the previous books of the series to be able to enjoy this one. The series centers around an older leader of the ton and how she wants other women to improve their situation and find their true love. After letting the heroine of the story borrow a pair of enchanted shoes that she herself was gifted by a gypsy, she subtly manipulates the hero and heroine into crossing paths and let's them take over from there.

The heroine Aurora has been banished to the country after being compromised by a man who could and would not marry her. She receives a letter from a stepmother asking her to come back to London after being gone for years because her stepmother is being blackmailed. To help her stepmother and to protect her sister, she gets a job working for the hero, Lucas, as a companion to his bed bound mother. She is a smart, strong and likable heroine who I instantly enjoyed.

Lucas is a strong hero who is trying to save his family by marrying a rich heiress until he meets Rory. Their attraction to each other, that has always been there for him, is nicely paced and I loved reading these two fall for each other. They both attempt solve the mystery of who is blackmailing her stepmother and to fight their attraction to one another but are unable to.

I loved the secondary characters in the story, especially his mother who is ornery and has a sharp tongue for anyone who comes near her, and Rory's aunt who is blunt, motherly, and kind. The only issue that I has was (view spoiler)

I have to start off by saying I LOVE reading romance novels set back in Europe. There is something so fantasy like about imagining A lady and a rake, or a lady fallen from grace and an honorable high society nobleman. This story did not disappoint. A woman cast out of society for being a little naive and thinking she had fallen in love returns to the place she was banished from to help solve a crime. This return creates tension and romance with a nobleman who was attracted to her before her fall, but can't have her now because he has to marry for money. Through heated exchanges and trials the two must work together to solve the puzzle to the crime. Will their attraction be enough for this man to give up luxury to be with her, or will it be a short lived passion?

Great read.

The Scandalous Flirt was a delightful romance with a scandalous heroine, a mysterious honorable hero and the blackmail scheme that brings them together.

During her debut season, Aurora Paxton was banished to the country to live with her aunt after she was caught up in a scandal that nearly ruined her family. After being informed that her stepmother is being blackmailed and her sister is engaged to a man twice her age, Aurora returns to town to get to the bottom of things. When her stepmother claims Lucas Vale Marquess of Dashell is the blackmailer, Aurora becomes a companion to Lucas's mother to find out what he could possibly want from her family. Aurora quickly discovers that not everything is as it seems and when someone from her past returns, Aurora will have to decide just who she can trust in her journey for answers.

Aurora made a life for herself in the country despite being banished and I admire that she stayed true to what she wanted in life even when told her options would be limited due to her scandalous past. She has a tendency to speak without thinking which does get her in trouble occasionally. Her relationship with her aunt is wonderful and in her she found the mother she didn't have. The relationship she has with her stepmother is the exact opposite and I would have enjoyed her being ruined if not for Aurora's sister.

Lucas has recently inherited his title and is working towards securing his family's future. For a large portion of the book, he's courting an heiress with the hope of marrying her to pay off his family's debts. Lucas is willing to set aside his own happiness for the sake of the family and marry someone despite being in love with someone else. I understand where Lucas was coming from here and it was an admirable decision, but it did prove frustrating at times.

Aurora and Lucas team up pretty early on to locate the blackmailer as it's apparent nearly from the start that it isn't Lucas at all. The two have some great scenes while searching for the blackmailer and they both let their guard down during these scenes which was great. I liked how much fun they had together and the banter was excellent. There are a number of misunderstandings that occur which could have been fixed sooner if these two would have just sat down and talked. The book is pretty light on the sexier scenes which I was not expecting. There are a few kissing scenes, but the one and only sex scene happens 92% of the way into the book. I like my romances more on the steamier side, so that is my only complaint about the romance.

The Scandalous Flirt ended up being a really fun read and the mystery aspect was well done and kept my interest. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great historical romance and you can read it without having read the others in the series as it stands well on its own.

“The merest breath of scandal can ruin a lady” - Miss Cellany.
This book has a definite fairytale quality to it. A fairy godmother, magic slippers and a finger pricked on a spinning wheel are all woven into the first two chapters. Add to this a young woman who has been banished for 8 years having been duped by a married man; blackmail, radical opinions, gambling debts, a Duke and a Marquess. An enthralling read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.