Scandalously Mine

Fated for a Rogue, Book 8

By: Amanda Mariel

Narrated by: Anne Marie Damman

In the glittering ballrooms and scandalous gambling dens of Regency England, the notorious Lord Tristan Breckenridge is a name whispered with both awe and trepidation. When a high-stakes card game leads him to win the captivating Miss Emmeline Brooks, a virtuous lady untouched by the allure of London society, their fates become irrevocably entwined.

Tristan, a charming rogue with a disdain for marriage, never expected to acquire a wife through a game of chance. Emmeline, resolute in her determination to avoid scandal at all costs, finds herself bound to a man whose reputation precedes him.

As their worlds collide and duty clashes with desire, Tristan and Emmeline must navigate the treacherous waters of an unwanted marriage and their own conflicting emotions. Sparks fly between them, igniting a passion neither anticipated. Can they forge a love that defies expectations? Or will their union unravel, risking everything they hold dear?

Scandalously Mine is a tale of temptation, honor, and the unpredictable nature of the heart in a world where love and reputation collide.

©2024 Amanda Mariel (P)2024 Amanda Mariel

Sweet Regency Romance

This is book 8 in the Wayward Dukes' Alliance Series. I like Regency Romance! Tristan and Emmeline‘s story is sweet, and engaging. The storyline is interesting. Anne Marie Damman did a good job with the narration. I enjoyed it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Mine

This was a short reading. This is Tristan and Emmeline story. What would you do if your dad gambled you away? Tristan is happy not being married. Emmeline wants to marry for love, but now she can't. Follow this drama as they try there life together? Will it be come more?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

temptating

Scandalously Mine by Amanda Mariel is a captivating Regency romance that plunges listeners into the glittering yet perilous world of high society, filled with intrigue, scandal, and unexpected love. This eighth installment in the Fated for a Rogue series introduces us to the notorious Lord Tristan Breckenridge and the virtuous Miss Emmeline Brooks, whose lives become inextricably linked through a high-stakes card game.

The audiobook brilliantly captures the allure of Regency England, and the narrator skillfully brings each character to life. Lord Tristan, with his charm and roguish reputation, is portrayed as a fascinating antihero. The narrator’s performance highlights Tristan’s inner conflict—his disdain for marriage and his surprising connection to Emmeline, creating a compelling dynamic that keeps the listener engaged.

Emmeline, determined to avoid scandal, is a refreshing heroine whose strength and resolve shine through, even as she finds herself unexpectedly married to a man whose reputation is far from pristine. The narrator expertly conveys her turmoil as she navigates her new reality, balancing duty and desire in a society that values reputation above all else.

The chemistry between Tristan and Emmeline is palpable, with sparks flying as they confront their conflicting emotions. The pacing of the audiobook allows their relationship to develop naturally, building tension and excitement as they grapple with their unexpected attraction amidst the constraints of their marriage. The narrator captures the moments of passion and vulnerability, making their journey both heartfelt and relatable.

Raucous, Over-the-Top Regency Romp

Over the last year or so, I've gotten into listening to audiobooks. While I'll never give up my voracious reading habit, audiobooks are the perfect solution when you have other things you must do with your hands that don't really require much mental effort, allowing you to while away the time during a boring task while listening to a story or an informative book.

I did review the ebook version of this book (full review below), and what I said in the very last line of that review turned out to be quite telling. While I found reading the book to be fun, it did come across as highly improbable and melodramatic, as I stated in the book review title. But this audiobook version, in the hands of the very talented narrator, was simply a pure delight. Her voicing of the characters and story made the melodrama and the “love at first sight” vibe seem more charming and ultimately so very sweet (even when the book got steamy!). The narrator was able to convey how these two fell completely for each other rapidly, how the hero immediately changed his spots—going from an unrepentant rake and dilettante to one who's very protective of the heroine who he has seen jeopardized by her own father—in the span of a heartbeat, and how they swiftly became a believable team. If you enjoy audiobooks as much as reading books, I highly recommend this audiobook version over the ebook version because the narrator adds to the joy and fun. The epilogue was the perfect cherry on top of the cake, giving us a glimpse at the lives of the hero, heroine, and their family 10 years after the core of the book takes place. So long as you can just let go of any Regency pretensions you may have—and I'll admit I'm probably more guilty of demanding quality and authenticity than just about any other Regency reader out there!—and just roll with this story and its charming characters, you will probably enjoy this lovely novella as much as I did.

Original eBook Review: Highly Improbable and Melodramatic … Yet Deliciously Done

I feel like I barely know where to begin when discussing this book. I'll admit I was a bit turned off at the beginning of the book. The language comes across as highly overblown, with the author including incredible minutiae about the tiniest details of action, thought, and emotion. Not quite this author's usual style; perhaps she's feeling very comfortable in her chosen subgenre, and therefore, decided to play around with language and presentation of plot. Anyway ... Yet, it felt as though there were gaping holes in our understanding of precisely the circumstances both the heroine and hero are in when the book opens. Every moment feels exaggerated and heightened. Real life is not like this! It would be exhausting if it were! However, once I accepted the author's approach for this book, I had fun with it and found it actually a pleasure to read. The hero's characterization, especially at first … what can I say? The heroine's interactions with the elders in her family … oh, my goodness! I'll have to say that the heroine’s aunt, Lady Lockwood, turned out to be a surprise, frustrating, and somewhat scandalous in her own right! (I’d love to see a Georgian romance about her!) While this certainly is not among my favorites written by this author, it was a fun way to spend a few hours. Given the melodrama and overblown vocabulary, I'd be most curious to see this as an audiobook done by a talented narrator; with the right one, it could be a pure raucous, over-the-top Regency romp.

More Than a Wager

Emmeline Brooks wants to marry for love. Her father, in dire financial straits, demands she make an advantageous match. Tristan doesn’t want to marry, at least not yet. But when Mr. Brooks loses to Tristan so badly at cards that he offers his daughter’s hand to pay the debt, Tristan decides to accept in order to protect Emmeline. He and Emmeline had met and danced at a ball, and there was some attraction. They go full blast into courting, and their feeling begin to grow. They meet a few problems, but family and friends step up to help. This is lively romance with engaging characters. Emmeline is a sweet heroine, and Tristan is a rogue on his way to reform. Well written and entertaining. Enjoyable narration by Anne Marie Damman.
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.

Temptation and Honor Collide

I listened to this as an audiobook and it was absolutely delightful!
Tristan leads a devil-may-care life on purpose. He has carefully crafted and maintained his roguish reputation as a means of protecting himself and his heart. On the other hand, Emmeline has a pristine reputation and desires only to marry for love. But unfortunately, her father is in need of money, and needs her to marry for that alone. When Tristan beats Emmeline's father at a game of cards, her father becomes indebted to Tristan, and payment is in the form of Emmeline's hand in marriage. Tristan was at first not willing to accept this type of payment, but when Emmeline's father was offering to sell her hand to anyone else, Tristan became enraged and in order to protect Emmaline's reputation, agreed to marry her. But despite the unconventional way they were bought together, they began to grow close and developed an unbreakable bond that was put to the test when a scandalous situation arose.
A very well-written story that is full of drama and romance. Tristan and Emmeline had wonderful chemistry and were both well-developed, endearing characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Scandalously Mine!

I really loved this Regency romance. It is a fairly quick and short read/listen with some wonderful characters. This is a very interesting and intriguing story about Tristan and Emmeline. I really love how it developed and flowed. These two are perfect for each other. Emmeline must convince her mother of the man that Tristan has become.

Win a wager, win a...bride?

I enjoy Amanda Mariel's stories, and especially her audiobooks, because I don't have a lot of time to read. With an audiobook, I can be doing other things at the same time and still enjoy a really good story. I love romance, and her characters, especially the ladies, always rouse my emotions and have me rooting for their happiness. It's always fun when a marriage of convenience or necessity becomes more, and I enjoyed seeing Emmeline and Tristan take that journey. I really love when a rake finds true love, and I enjoyed the support of Tristan's family.

I received a free copy of this audiobook via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Nice audiobook

I liked the narration. There is only one steamy scene and it is mild. I felt left out on what the plan was for the heroine’s father’s debts and if he finally gave up gambling. The epilogue was sweet.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Tristan and Emmeline

This is a short story about Tristan and Emmeline. It was a romantic story set in Regency times. I found it to be overly descriptive at times. The romance was sweet. The story line was good; indeed, I would have liked even more of the story. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. I felt like just a little something was missing in the love connection between Tristan and Emmeline. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.