How to School Your Scoundrel by Juliana Gray – a Review

How To School Your Scoundrel
A Princess in Hiding series – Book #3
by Juliana Gray
Release Date: June 3, 2014

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Description:
Princess Luisa has devoted her life to duty, quietly preparing to succeed her father as ruler. Nothing, however, primed her to live on the run, disguised as a personal secretary to a notorious English scoundrel. The earl is just the man to help her reclaim her throne, but Luisa is drawn to her powerful employer in ways she never imagined…

Philip, Earl of Somerton, has spent six years married to a woman in love with another man—he refuses to become a fool due to imprudent emotions ever again. Only, as his carefully laid plans for vengeance falter, fate hands him hope for redemption in the form of a beautiful and determined young princess who draws him into a risky game of secrets, seduction, and betrayal. And while his cunning may be enough to save her life, nothing can save him from losing his heart


Review:
How to School Your Scoundrel by Juliana Gray is the 3^rd book in her historical romance, A Princess in Hiding series. I very much enjoyed the first two books in this series, as Juliana Gray does a wonderful job in creating a fun storyline with a little bit of everything; romance, historical, mystery, danger, but above all the story had a lot of humor, and was joy to read.

A quick but spoiler free background on this series: Three princesses (Louisa, Stefanie and Emilie) find themselves targets in a deadly plot against the crown, that has already killed their father. Their uncle, the Duke of Olympia, puts together a plan to separate them in disguise, until it is safe.

This is Louisa’s story, as she is sent to the mansion of the Earl of Somerton, to be his assistant. What I love about these stories is the fun watching each of these young ladies in disguise, and how the hero of the book finds himself becoming somewhat attracted to them. Gray does this so well.

Somerton is our anti-hero, who comes across early on as ruthless, and arrogant. We met him in a previous series of Gray’s, and at that time he was an unlikely hero. Early on, when Louisa arrives to work for Somerton as Mr. Markham, we found ourselves not liking him. Somerton is in an unhappy marriage, as his wife of 6 years, pines for another man, and all he wants is revenge against the man in question. Louisa sympathizes with the wife and her young son, since Somerton is cruel, angry and mean to his wife, totally ignoring her. I personally thought he had every reason to feel this way. J

Somerton tests Mr. Markham, sending him on wild goose chases to ensure his loyalty. It is Markham to finds the proof for Somerton about his wife’s love of the other man. At this point, Somerton finds himself losing control, but it is Louisa who will help him see the light. . Eventually, in time, things will change and he will see the woman under the disguise.

Louisa visits often her “aunt” (Duke Olympia) to check up on her sisters, as it is Louisa who will become the ruler of the crown, and she is the one the traitors are trying to find and kill. She knows she needs someone powerful, like Somerton to help her reclaim her throne, not to mention she finds herself falling for him.

What follows is a wonderful romance, which you knew was coming, but totally took us by surprise as how great they were together. The fact that Gray can redeem someone like Somerton, who was a villain in a previous story, not to mention his unlikeability early on tells you how terrific a writer she is.

How to School a Scoundrel not only is a wonderful, sexy and fun romance, but it also an exciting mystery, with danger throughout that heads to a wild frenzied climax, with a few twists along the way. It was fun to see everyone from all three books come together to fight the enemy. I love Juliana Gray’s writing, as she creates wonderful couples, great secondary characters, and adds such fun humor to her stories. If you enjoy historical romances, with a little bit of mystery, sexy romance, and just simply a delightful read, then this book is for you.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher