I liked the idea of incorporating mythology into the story. I couldn't help but thinking, however, that Octavia was a bit of a brat. Nevertheless, she figured out how the story of Hades and Persephone could help her relationship with Gabriel work.

Four Weeks of Scandal by Megan Frampton, book five in her Hazards of Dukes series, is an enjoyable, low-angst romance between a straight-laced scholar and a spontaneous gambling hell owner who have a shared past. When Miss Octavia Holton's gambler father dies, she is determined to claim an inheritance by selling her childhood home and paying off her debts. When she arrives in the village, she discovers Mr. Gabriel Fallon, who also lays claim to the house. Gabriel has a marker proving his father won the property in a bet, but makes a deal with Octavia: a four-week bargain where they pretend to be engaged and search the house for a will or any document proving the ownership. As they spend more and more time together they realize attracted to each other; sharing a sizzling chemistry and that fate had a hand on them reuniting.

Ms. Frampton wrote a entertaining and amusing story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with humorous escapades, clever banter, chemistry and endearing characters giving Octavia and Gabriel a chance to fall in love. The whole story was so entertaining and I highly enjoyed reading Four Weeks of Scandal and recommend it to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Upon her father's death, Octavia takes possession of his home—but so does Gabriel, who claims his own father won the property in a bet. Until the legal mess can be straightened out, they hire a household staff and pretend to be engaged. Beneath the fake relationship simmers a very real attraction. Will they go their separate ways once the four weeks of scandal come to an end?

Fun and steamy, this novel offers a rollicking plot, irresistible characters, and no shortage of witty banter. I love how Megan Frampton's heroines approach intimate relationships without shame or apologies.

The audio narration by Justine Eyre is brilliant and adds to the enjoyment of the story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

What happens when your father recently passed and leaves you an estate and when you get to the estate you find a naked man in your pond? You freak out. Apparently luck is not on your side, but despite this stranger telling you that your house is actually his house, you make a bet that his word is false. And in order to find out if this is false, you both seek out the original document.
Since you weren't expecting someone to be in your home, you arrive alone and with minimal belongings, However, being in the presence of a man without a lady's maid is a big no no. Due to these circumstances, the two decide to fake date. And to further their escaped, they hire staff for the house and start planning their wedding.
While waiting to find the proof of who actually owns the house, they agree to help spruce up the house.

Tropes in this, forced proximity and fake dating. The FMC is also a businesswoman.

This is in a series; however, I have not read any previous books in this series and I did not feel lost.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC; however, this is my honest review.

I love a fake engagement plot but Four Weeks of Scandal didn't really hold my attention. I did like that it took place outside of London and that no dukes were involved but I never warmed to Olivia's character and I didn't feel invested in the relationship between her and Gabriel. Just ok for me.

Four Weeks of Scandal
A Hazards of Dukes Novel
by Megan Frampton

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved these characters. They each have a faithful dog. Hers is enormous and his is dainty. She’s feisty and impulsive but genuine and kind hearted. He’s a hot scholarly nerd - one of my favorite hero archetypes. They have a history of relatable trauma in that their fathers were both gamblers, not the best of dads and are now dead.

Alternating points of view is so satisfying with an enemies to lovers trope. Honestly it should be a requirement. These two seriously have the hots for each other. I love that she’s the one that says - eh why not and he’s the one that says - well hold on now - when they get to making out.
Absolutely scrumptious. 5/5

Octavia Holton and her sister, Ivy, own a gambling house in London. She needs more money to pay off a loan and to keep everything running well. When she learns that her father has died, she borrows a carriage and along with her mastiff, Cerberus, she travels to his estate to stake her claim on the house. There, she finds it very dirty inside and realizes she will have to clean it up so she can sell it. She also finds a mostly naked man and his Pomeranian puppy, Nyx, in the pond behind her home.

Gabriel Fallon has been busy sorting out the estate of Mr. Holton. His and Octavia’s father used to play cards and gamble together. Before both men died close together, Mr. Holton lost the estate in a bet to Mr. Fallon.

Octavia and Gabriel knew one another years ago, and when he tells her he owns the property, she refuses to accept it. They finally agree to 30 days for Octavia to find proof that she actually owns the house. They hire a few people from the village to help clean and cook for them while they sort out and clean the house.

While Octavia and Gabriel are on different paths for their lives, they cannot deny a spark of attraction that grows to they point they cannot deny themselves. Will Octavia find the proof she needs that the house is hers or will she return to London empty handed?

This is a clever plot and I liked the characters. As usual, this author adds her bits of humor which are always appreciated. For me, Greek mythology is simply boring and something I have never cared for. But if you like it, you are in for a treat. I admittedly do not care for the casual encounters between our hero and heroine but if you like it, then this book is double the treat for you.

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

Yet another triumph for Megan Frampton in this infectiously witty, thoroughly enjoyable series! I guarantee you will fall in love with the impetuous Octavia and the cautious Gabriel. Both products of their scandalous, reprobate fathers who thought nothing of gambling their children's lives and legacies away with the turn of a card. Octavia and Gabriel arrive at Octavia's dilapidated home with each claiming it as rightfully theirs. But first, Octavia must find proof that predates Gabriel's voucher that states it is his. They agree to live there together while searching for the proof and cleaning the house up. A fake engagement appeases the local villagers In the ensuing month, they find themselves, holding a gangster at bay, hosting an event to pay back said gangster and falling in love. I fell in love with Octavia, Gabriel and the delightful family of villagers who help them in their quest. I read it in one day - it was that good!

I liked this book. While I didn't feel like the storyline was anything fresh or groundbreaking it was fun. As for the characters I really liked Gabriel. He just seemed like a great guy. I wish I could say the same about Octavia but honestly, I was not a fan and actually found her quite annoying. I thought that their chemistry was solid though and I thoroughly enjoyed the heat they generated.

Thank you #NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of #FourWeeksofScandal by Megan Frampton in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Megan Frampton book and I adored it. I can't wait to read the rest of this series and to read more of her backlist. I enjoyed watching Octavia and Gabriel fall in love. If you are looking for a lighthearted, sweet fake engagement romance, look no further. Octavia and Gabriel have something in common, fathers who thought gambling was the most important thing in their lives. Gabriel wants nothing to do with gambling and Octavia runs a gambling hall with her sister. Gabriel is a scholar and loves Greek mythology and Octavia acts before thinking things through.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If I'm being honest, this book didn't work for me at all. I found Octavia to be brash and unlikable. Gabriel was just kind of a boring hero. Nothing happened. Their conversations were awkward or Octavia made them so. She came off extremely immature and without a lot of tact. I wasn't invested in the house plot. Just overall, kind of a letdown for me. I've only read two Megan Frampton, but if the past two are any indicator then she might not be for me. If you're already a fan, you'd probably enjoy this more than I did.

The heroine accumulated financial debt after borrowing from a money lender. After learning that her estranged father died, the heroine returns to the village to sell her childhood home to pay off her debts. However, the hero is staying at said house, stating that his late father acquired the building and he'll renovate it to make it his home. As the two cohabitates as a fake engaged couple, they both began to fall in love even as they seek legal proof of individual ownership.

This is a standalone addition to the Hazards of Dukes series. It features a heroine who wants to pay off her debts, and a scholarly hero who just wants a home to call his own. The heroine first appeared in the first book as she is the sister of that particular book's heroine. It's nice that the first book's couple made a cameo appearance in this book. There were also some other wonderful secondary characters, especially the whole village that came together to help with the home renovation and the main couple's canine companions. I liked the hero more than the heroine in this book because I felt that the growth of the heroine wasn't as balanced as I wanted it to be. It would have been nice to add some more details in certain areas of the story since the story did drag a bit and needed better transition in those parts. Overall, it's a nice reading and I look forward to reading more Megan Frampton books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in my review are my own.**

Octavia is known for making rash, spontaneous decisions and having to deal with the consequences. She is currently facing the consequence of one of her poor decisions, borrowing money from a lender. Desperate for funds and unwilling to ask her sister for help, she travels to the house where she grew up to stake her claim on her inheritance. Unfortunately, her father gambled away her childhood home to Gabriel’s father. Gabriel wants nothing more than to settle in the home. The two work out an agreement to give Octavia the time to find proof the home is hers, but the more time they spend together, the more their attraction grows.


This book is the perfect low stakes read that I really needed this week! I think Octavia is a character we can all relate to (who hasn’t made a massive mistake in their lifetime). Gabriel is such a heartwarming hero who brings the perfect amount of spice in the bedroom. What I loved most about this book is the development of what happens when a person becomes your place. I also really enjoyed all of the different Greek mythology tales told throughout. Gabriel is a scholar who studies Greek mythology and the tales are used as a communication tool throughout the book as Gabriel tells the household a new story every night. I thought it was a really clever way to incorporate his passion into the story. I would recommend any Frampton fan to read this, but also anyone who loves historical romance and needs a low conflict read right now!

Thank you Net Galley and Avon for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review!

Forced proximity...

Four weeks to sort out the mess their fathers left them with.
Octavia is determined to take care of everything, meaning pay off the loan owed by her and her sister's gaming business. That means fix up her house and sell it. Only, Gabriel is claiming his father won it in a bet and of course he as nowhere else to go, as his father burnt down their house.
Forced proximity means plenty of steam and four weeks to be naughty.

Recommend.

Not as engaging as I thought it would be, but the passion between Octavia and Gabriel is scorching hot. Octavia Holton is desperate for money to pay off a money lender on a loan to improve the gambling house in London. She is part owner with her sister Ivy. Only Ivy doesn't know about the loan. Selling their family home is her only option. Gabriel Fallon has the paper that says his father won the Holton house in a bet. He has no where else to live, since father burned down their house. The death of his father and the death of Octavia's give them something in common. Looking for the will to prove Octavia owns the house will force them to compromise. A fake engagement and the help of the people of Greensett village will give Gabriel and Octavia what they have never had before, a family. Now, how to pay off the debt?
Gabriel is an exceptional hero with a heart of gold!
Heat Level 5

Four Weeks of Scandal by Megan Frampton has hilarious moments, swoony scenes, and let's not forget the steam. This book has it all, and you should all be adding this to your wishlists and TBRs

Opposites attract in this wonderful story by Megan Frampton. Octavia and Gabriel both had fathers who gambled, for a living and with each other. That gambling led them to have childhoods that was less than perfect. Gabriel grew up to be a scholar and eschews all gambling while Octavia and her sister own a gambling house. So when their fathers die within months of each other there is a dispute over ownership of a house.

Watching both Octavia and Gabriel bend in their thinking while falling in love was sweet. I loved that they made a family on their own when they didn't have that to begin with.

Yes, this is book 5 in the series and I have not read the rest of the series, but have no fear. I was not lost at all. In fact, we meet Octavia's sister Ivy and her husband who were in a previous book and now I want to read their story!

Will she continue her one sided journey or finally accept others in her life …

Fun how life can be twisted some time, I haven’t read the author since the first book of this series, but now I am to see in some way the arc of the two sisters life come to completion.

Gabriel is such a lovable fellow, he asks for not much, only a place to belong, to call home. After having been as much a victim of his father’s gambling way as any of the people his sire swindled, he is left with few to nothing as legacy outside a ramshackle house won in a card game against his father’s nemesis.
So when a woman disputes his ownership, instead of sending her away, his inner gentleness prevents him to throw her out, as while having never meet her before, he knows who she is and what sort of life she had to survive. As both their fathers were incorrigible gamblers, he understands what she went through. But he also struggles to understand why she runs a gambling hell when it was such an activity which nearly ruined their life.

Octavia is not the easiest heroine to like, she knows her flaws, being rather self-centered and acting before thinking, it seems she cannot stop her compulsive need to follow her very own path whatever the consequences. When she has an idea in mind, she must do it but the planning side she is likely lacking. Thus how she finds herself stranded without food, locomotion means and few money with a stranger in a place she has not visited for over many years.
In all, I did not hate her but I never came to care for her. What the hero finds so entrancing stayed quite a mystery.

Sure she is quite feisty and her strong personality stands out, but her repeated inner dialogues of what she wants again and again, of all the mistakes she made and continue to make, her need to sell the house to save her limbs when she witnesses how it has become more than a simple shelter for the people moving around her, her inability to reach others choosing always herself before the others did not help to appreciate her.
When Gabriel is such a sweetheart, ready to gamble the home he has been renovating, when she is quite unable to reciprocate.
3.25 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen foreplays and lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Megan Frampton's Four Weeks of Scandal is a sweet and easy romance that is a very loose gender swapped Hades and Persephone retelling. Frampton's writing is light in tone that is very accessible to the reader. This novel is well paced with a soft ease that mimics the countryside/small town setting of this novel between two opposites attract. I found this novel to be enjoyable and a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Octavia and Gabriel find themselves in a "property" battle after both of their father's death's, each believing that their father was the last owner of the country home Octavia grew up in. Both men where gamblers and this country estate became a key player in some of their last bets. When Octavia stumbles upon Gabriel living in her house they both strike up a four week bargain in which they will pretend to be engaged while seeking out some sort of proof to the true owner of the estate.

Octavia is a headstrong and determined heroine who can seem off-putting at times which make her a delightful grump for Gabriel to break down her walls. Gabriel is kind and thoughtful, he is a scholar and has a way about him that helps to grow relationships as he brings life back into the estate. I love that the typical traits are swapped in this between Octavia and Gabriel and I love that Octavia really has to learn to break down her walls and learn to trust another. The relationship between Gabriel and Octavia is one that has a slow and soft boil. Their feels really take time to truly develop which gives them both the ability to learn more about the other before they fully jump into a physical relationship. I think Frampton does a lovely job with the exploration of the physical side of their relationship, it really gives Octavia moments in which she can be more vulnerable and open. This romance is definitely a slower and softer one with quiet moments of romance. I think it is a really sweet story of two people who learn to work together and trust each other and help to create a new and flourishing home with a found family that they were not expecting.

If you love a softer and endearing romance that will warm your heart I think that Megan Frampton's works are a lovely option for you. I found this to be gentle and calm romance between two people who find someone that they want to build a life with.

I have mixed feelings about this installment in the series.
While I loved the premise and the hero, the heroine and the romance itself left something to be desired. I just wasn't rooting for the couple to be together and that's never a good sign in a romance novel. I thought the heroine was too cruel and flippant towards the hero who really didn't do anything to deserve such treatment from her. I understand this was unintentional on the heroine's part but there wasn't even a grovel or apology scene from her (women can grovel too!).
Despite the romance being lackluster in my opinion, the chemistry was spot on. I enjoyed the intimate scenes these two had thought they were well written.
The story begins to drag in the middle but picks up in time for the end. There were also long speeches about women's rights that could have been weaved into the story better so they didn't seem preachy or random.
Overall this was an okay read. There were things I enjoyed and things that took me out of the story.