Beyond Scandal and Desire audiobook

EDIT: Bumping this book up to five stars because this story was memorable to me and I don't know why I didn't give it five stars when I read it then. One thing's for sure, I think about the hero and this book a lot so I can say it's worthy of five stars. I loved Mick Trewlove! “You intrigue me, Lady Aslyn, but I can’t call on you for two reasons—you are already betrothed, and I sincerely doubt your guardians would welcome me into their home.” Mick Trewlove is a Duke's by-blow and he suffers a great deal from the stigma of his birth. Now a self-made man, he possesses a great wealth but even all the money in the world isn't enough to satisfy him. What Mick wants the most is for his father to acknowledge him as a son and for the Duke's downfall. It seems simple enough when he already has his targets to begin with. He would start with his father's legitimate heir and his brother's betrothed's ruination. The plan seems to be going well at first but the more time he spends with Lady Aslyn, the more Mick is fascinated with her as she is with him. But she is a lady, and he's a bastard. Would a match between the two ever be possible when she's already engaged to another and he has plans that when discovered by Aslyn would break her heart and lose her trust? Beyond Scandal and Desire is the first book from Lorraine Heath's historical romance series, Sins for all seasons. This book is quite good! it had all the right elements that I enjoy in a book. I see myself reading more books from the series in the near future. Meet Lady Aslyn Hastings, orphaned and sheltered. Her parents died when she was a mere child, so she's been the Duke and Duchess of Hedley's ward for a long, long time. She has been trained to behave like a proper lady all her life. She has been prepared to be Lord Kipwick's countess, soon to be Duchess. The Duke and Duchess loved her and she loved them in return. She'd be an official member of the family the moment she marries their son. She was a girl who already had her future before her. She'd never been courted by gentlemen as they all knew she was already spoken for. She found no problem with this, but the moment she met Mick Trewlove, there is something inside her that yearns for an adventure, and yearns for the very improper man who she seemed to think about a great deal but ought not to. Mick Trewlove is the Duke of Hedley's bastard. He has hatred for his aristocratic father who delivered him to a baby farmer. He spent a great deal of his life working in order to survive and he worked hard to acquire great wealth. At thirty one years old, he's a man in possession of a good fortune, but a man no one of proper birth should be acquainted with because of the circumstances of his birth. Set on getting revenge, he had thought of the perfect plan. Although, at first, his intentions with Lady Aslyn were manipulative at best, he grew to care for the lady. I loved the heroine. I was annoyed with her at first, she is so naive. It's like she does not make decisions for herself, she lets the Duke and Duchess make those for her. She also seemed to think that she was in love with Lord Kipwick, which she later on realized was more of a brotherly affection. Her character development was satisfying and I grew to love her, seem to understand why the hero was so enamored by her. Moving on, I had great love for the hero of the story as well. What can I say? I love reading about the Lords and the Ladies of the historical romance genre but I also have a soft spot for self-made men. Mick was supposed to be using the lady as an instrument for his revenge plan but very early on in the book, he's already quite taken with her. Not insta-love though. It was more attraction and curiosity. It had a slow start but when things began to be interesting, I was fully hooked and hated that I had to attend classes because I could not focus on reading the book. What you must know about me is that I love the illicit affair trope. I love the forbidden romance trope. I love the revenge trope. I love bastard-lady trope. It hits all the right spot for me. I love it. The angst is unmatched. Those tropes are all present in this book so of course I enjoyed reading this one. Aslyn is already spoken for, and around somewhere in the book, Lord Kipwick finally proposed to which she accepted. Though she was highly intrigued by Mick Trewlove, she knew there was no future for the two of them. Ladies did not consort with bastards. There was the social class division, her charge, and all of society would turn their back on her the moment she lets things get serious with a bastard, a commoner at that. A lady of her standing had been trained to be proper and to marry titled gentlemen, otherwise, those who were not aristocrats had no right to call on her, should not even be breathing the same air as her. Harsh, but that's how it was. What I loved about Aslyn is that when she realized that she loved Mick, she was willing to marry him and did not care anymore what the people would say or how many would raise their eyebrows. She was ready to risk it all so she was devastated when she discovered that at the beginning, she was merely a means to an end. I loved seeing her growth from a naive lady to a woman who does not let other people decide for her and to fight for what she wants in her life. As for Mick, I loved him as a hero. He had a hard childhood and who is to blame but his own father. I loved Ettie Trewlove and how she raised many children not her own even though she did not really have the means to. She's a brave and strong woman, I wish we got to see more of her. I did not really see the plot twist coming. I thought the Duke had a mistress that's why he had to dispose his child but turns it out it was not what it seemed. As for the Duchess, I feel sorry for what she had to go through. I was very mad at her at first because she had a weird behaviour and was oddly against those who she deemed below her - though I do not believe that justifies her distaste for commoners, it does explain why she is the way she is. I loved the ending but I wish we had more of Aslyn and Mick as a couple! Also liked how The Duchess and Ettie became friends. That was really fun to read about. The "turns-out-he-is-a-Duke's-heir" plot might be cliche but I ate it up nonetheless. I do not know how I feel about him turning down the title though, I believe he deserved it better than Kipwick seeing as he is actually the first son and way more responsible than his wastrel of a brother. Maybe I am a petty person but I never disliked Mick, even when he was plotting revenge. I think he has a right to be mad at the people who made his life hard. He did not deserve to go all through that so no one can really blame me if I was cheering on the side whenever his revenge plan seem to go well. Over all, I loved Mick and Aslyn together. Seeing them fall in love and realize their love for each other was satisfying and it was pretty romantic. And my! those explicit scenes! this man is hot! As someone who rather dislike reading too much smut on romance books, though this one was mild, it was pretty hot. Loved it! Girly is getting that dick everyday! I am glad I decided to read this book because it had all the right ingredients and Lorraine Heath managed to make it work. Will definitely be reading more of her books.

3.5 starsI received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Mick grew up knowing he was illegitimate and experienced all the society pitfalls because of it. All he has ever wanted is for his father to publicly acknowledge him but when his father refuses, he decides to ruin his half-brother heir. Aslyn has been the Duke of Hedley's ward for most of her life after her parents died. With it understood that she would eventually marry Hedley's son and their very protective nature, Aslyn has been sheltered. Starting to feel stifled, she begins to push for more freedom. After meeting Mick, she senses a freedom she has never thought to experience.Mick wants revenge but how far will he be willing to get it?  "I intend to take from him everything he holds dear---including the lady at his side."  The first in a new series, Beyond Scandal and Desire focuses on the eldest child of Widow Trewlove, a woman who took in unwanted babies. While we are introduced to Mick as a very successful business man, he alludes and mentions how tough it was growing up poor and with the taint of being a bastard. The revenge he seeks is a bit different; he simply wants his father to acknowledge him and hopes this will open higher society doors to him. It's a little heartbreaking that Mick obviously just wants to feel acknowledged by his father, making him feel meaningful since he was given away. Mick was the hero where circumstances force him to have a tough outer shell but is angry and hurt over feeling abandoned. He was somewhat romance hero trope (a bit more sensitive) but how he fell for heroine made him very enjoyable to read.  Why did this man have such an effect on her?Why did everyone else seem so small in comparison?  Our heroine Aslyn starts off very sheltered and buttoned up but with some inner thoughts that hint at a will striving to break free. I, personally, thought Aslyn stole the show a bit with her living in quiet desperation. Her journey and growth from accepting her gilded cage, to starting to question, finding herself, and finally expressing and owning what she wanted was so satisfying. Usually it is the hero who stands tall during the declarations of love but, here, oh the heroine brings it and I was cheering her on. Aslyn could have taken the easy road but she spoke her truth and I delighted in following along on her journey.  Never before had he ever been so weak-willed.He was a man of strength, and yet he thought for her he'd go to his knees.  With a mysterious painful beginning, I was sucked into the story right away. I took pleasure in the slow buildup and burn Heath provided, we get to know Mick and Aslyn (does start to feel a smidgen too slow as the anticipation for reveals starts to settle in). There are some scenes with Mick interacting with his family that helped fill out his character (and introduce future series heroes/heroines) and I wished there had been more for Aslyn. The Duke and Duchess of Hedley don't get as flushed out as I would have liked and their son definitely gets too much of a thinly veiled villain w/ maybe future redemption arc. While I enjoyed the slower buildup, the story had too much of a top heavy feel, the ending felt rushed. I would be lying if I didn't say I started watching the page count after I got around 60% waiting for a reveal that would have repercussions in Mick and Aslyn's relationship. The reveal was extremely needed too, but with how late it finally happened, I was left feeling a bit bereft and missing some crucial emotional angst and growth between the two; my favorite romance components. At minimum, this story needed to be 100 pages longer (my old romance reading heart would have delighted in a full sequel book finishing Aslyn and Mick's story with working things out after full reveal).  The buildup and getting to know characters first half will have you engrossed into the story but the very late reveals give the ending a rushed feel. Some secondary characters felt too thin but Aslyn's growth and journey along with her instant connection and simmering romance with Mick will have you appreciating and taking pleasure in the story.  All his life he'd been searching for acceptance, and here it was in the form of a woman with a tilted-up nose and crooked smile.

Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books✭ ✭ ✭ 4.5 STARS ✭ ✭ ✭ Lorraine Heath's introduction into her new series follows one of her well-loved formulas of unconventional heroes and/or heroines who often have the danger of scandal hanging above them. Even more fascinating is that the author often explores social deficiencies of that time which serves to provide a deeper experience and understanding as to how people lived in Georgian/Regency/Victorian times.The prologue offers a tragic view on a moment in the life of aristocracy. I was appalled but also felt an odd sense of compassion because something just didn't sit right with me from the beginning. A baby born in sin, delivered at the door of a woman who very well could have let the child die. An aristocrat who is filled with grief for his love and raising walls so that he won't be overwhelmed by guilt for giving the child away. These people didn't sound horrible or callous. So I was completely captivated and could not wait to untangle the mystery.Mick Trewlove is a bastard. He has come to terms with his status in life, yet he wants acknowledgement from the man who sired him. Being rebuffed once and then ignored only stirred his anger and calls for revenge. He is cunning, smart, wealthy and determined to use all the resources at his disposal to destroy the heir of his alleged father, the Duke of Hedley. A means to an end is Lady Aslyn, ward to the duke and soon-to-be-betrothed to his son, Kipwick. What he didn't anticipate was the enchantment Aslyn would cast over him. It was endlessly sweet to watch him fall for her, how defenseless he was and how she became his addiction. He still wants his revenge but all of a sudden he can't bear the thought of her falling with Kip, who had everything Mick wanted. He’d once thought her crucial to his scheme of bringing about Hedley’s downfall. Now he feared that she might very well lead to his. Ironic, that Mick had everything Kip wanted. And all of the time Mick is acutely aware of how unsuitable he is, how scandalous it would be for her to be associated with him.Aslyn grew up sheltered in her guardian's home. The duchess in particular feels extremely protective of her and there are lectures of morality in spades. There is an unspoken agreement that she will marry Kip, the man she grew up with and loves. At a not-so-chance run into Mick she is fascinated. The man who has risen above his origins calls to her but her guardians would never allow her to breathe the same air. I found it very satisfying that Aslyn showed that she had a good head on her shoulders and didn't blame the children for being born on the wrong side of the blanket but rather casting the responsibility on their parents, despite her coddled and sheltered upbringing.Aslyn's growth from when she meets Mick, still under the influence of the obvious hypocrisy of two people of the ton, to when she falls in love with a bastard is remarkable. I was happy to see that she was able to shed her own status and accept Mick for the man he was. “You’re someone’s son. What does it matter that your parents weren’t married? I don’t care how you came into the world. I only care that you’re here. Miss Heath slowly unravels the threads of the mystery surrounding Mick's birth. While I was pretty confident to know about his parentage I was kept in the dark for a very long time about how that fit together with him being a bastard. I commend the author for that successful twist in the story. Since that came rather late in the story, however, I felt that the end was slightly rushed.This story is an intriguing social study of the late 19th century - baby farmers were real. It was their job to rid people of the aristocracy and those who had money of unwanted children by letting them die. It's horrifying to what lengths people went (and still go) to keep their reputation intact.I got a kick out of getting a glimpse of Graves from The Last Wicked Scoundrel from the author's Scoundrels of St. James series. We are being introduced to Mick's colorful and merry band of adopted siblings who I'm sure we will see getting their HEAs. Towards the end it is mentioned that all his siblings born in sin would be accepted into the family which I found a little bit unbelievable, given the duke's and the duchess' previous opinion of illegitimate children.In my (not so humble) opinion Lorraine Heath is one of the most underrated and under-appreciated Historical Romance authors of today. Her words are poetry with the taste of old yet still very readable and enjoyable. She is one of the most reliable authors to pull my heartstrings. Romance, angst, a scandalous hero and a heroine who will grow on you make up this wonderful story that will leave you completely satisfied and will make you swoon. All his life he’d been searching for acceptance, and here it was in the form of a woman with a tilted-up nose and crooked smile.

Title: Beyond Scandal and DesireSeries: Sins for All Seasons #1Author: Lorraine HeathRelease date: January 30, 2018Cliffhanger: NoHEA(view spoiler)[Yes (hide spoiler)]She was no longer the means to an end, but had become the end itself.This is my first book by Lorraine Heath, and right out of the starting gate, she landed herself a spot on my auto-read author list. I was so impressed that I'm now on a mission to get through some of her backlist this year, to explore what I've been missing out on. This book gave me that rare and elusive giddiness you feel when you find an author and story that you connect with in every way. Heath paints the culture and people so vividly in color for you that her story doesn't just come to life, it takes you inside all of its brilliant shades. If you're late to her work like I was, there's no time like the present to correct that error. The synopsis for Beyond Scandal and Desire caught my eye immediately. A revenge plot where the unsuspecting heroine is caught in the hero's crossfire? Count me in. Though I have to admit, I was a little nervous in the beginning that Mick would be too heartless and unlikable to warm up to. Luckily, this wasn't the case at all. Yes, he was stern, ruthless, and cut a pretty intimidating figure. But there was a never a point when he was at his worst that I didn't see the good in him. Under his rough exterior, he's fiercely loyal and protective of his adoptive family. Mick's character clearly had some growing to do, but I had faith he would get there in time. Through the common practice of baby farming, the nobility were spared the hassle of facing the consequences of their actions. The Duke of Hedley believed that his own inconvenient truth was buried, but truth and justice were about to be resurrected. Mick wasn't content with being a dark stain, living in the shadows amongst the dregs of society. He was going to have it all, take it all, or die trying. He’d climbed as far as he could up the social ladder. To reach the higher rungs, others had to fall—far and spectacularly, like fireworks burning out on their way down. He would be paid what he was owed. And God’s mercy on anyone who stood in his way. Lady Aslyn Hastings is the ward of the Duke and Duchess of Hedley. For as long as she can remember, there has been an unspoken understanding that one day she would marry their son, Kip. She's coddled, and lectured on etiquette and morality until she feels positively stifled in their care. Secretly, she's bored at this bland life that's allotted to her, but she manages to ignore her rebellious streak for the most part. Her (almost) fiancè Kip is respectful at all times, polite, and the epitome of a proper gentleman around her. So why does she feel like something is not quite right about how they fit? They were to marry, and yet she felt like a child playing at pretend, not a woman anticipating the days—and nights—to come with relish. She’d been brought up to always feel calm and steady, but at that moment she desired only to feel more.After Aslyn and Kip have a seemingly chance meeting with Mick, he subtly starts to maneuver them like pawns on his chessboard. What he never could have planned for was the feelings that Aslyn immediately started to stir in him. This was where the story really started to become addictive to me. Forbidden feelings, suppressed desires, and shattered preconceptions made for some heady reading. The tension between these two was tangible, and though Mick had every intention to seduce her from the start, suddenly, all he wants to do is protect her from himself and anyone else who would harm her. She brought a softness out in him, and an inner turmoil that was completely new to him. He was a man accustomed to controlling his world, his fate, his destiny—yet where she was concerned, he’d lost his bearings. He felt as though she possessed a sledgehammer and was knocking away his wall of indifference, brick by brick. How would he protect himself when they were all gone? He didn’t know if he could find the resilience to stack the bricks back up.Mick must adjust his plans, or risk losing the woman who has come to mean everything to him. But even if he alters the path he has chosen, there's no guarantee that she will stand by him when the truth is out. Realistically, he knows that society will never favor a match between the two of them. So why can't he bring himself to walk away? One thing about the story that didn't work for me personally was (view spoiler)[the way that Kip's severe gambling addiction was swept under the rug at the end. Not only did he seem to have absolutely no consequences for what he did, but we were supposed to believe that his "lesson was learned" and they'll be able to watch over him. All will be well. I just can't accept that, it was a little to convenient to be believed. (hide spoiler)] This was the only thing holding me back from giving this a full five stars, and it didn't affect my enjoyment all that much. Overall, I was thrilled with the first installment in the Sins for all Seasons series. There was angst, passion, and belly flutters galore. I'm anxiously patiently awaiting When a Duke Loves a Woman's August release. Mick's sister Gillie is up next, and her story promises to be just as exceptional. FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: ["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

3.5 StarsOverall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I liked it all up until the very end (like 5ish%) because it was way too rushed and ends right after the conflict is resolved. I’m greedy! I wanted to experience them as an actual outed couple! I liked both characters, I liked experiencing their development of feelings, and I liked their connection. I also liked that this didn’t feel like anything else that I had read and had a uniqueness to it that I appreciated. Overall I liked this but felt ripped off in the end even though I would say this had a HEA ending.Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Aslyn and Mick’s story. Aslyn meets the businessman Mick when her betrothed takes her to a pleasure garden. She doesn’t understand the sparks she feels when she is around him, but does recognize that she doesn’t feel the same about the man she’s been expected to marry since her birth. Mick is a bastard that has worked his way to the top of society but cannot shed the dirt on his name from the circumstances of his birth. He is setting out to get revenge on his father, who happens to be Aslyn’s charge and fiancé’s father, by using them in his plans. There are some sweet moments, some secrets revealed, and a few sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Aslyn and Mick in 3rd person narrative.Overall Pace of Story: Good until the abrupt ending. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.Instalove: No, but instant connectionH (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Mick. I liked him. I appreciated how he cared for others.h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Aslyn. I liked her. I appreciated how she looked past the labels and cared for the H regardless.Sadness level: Low, no tissues neededPush/Pull: Yes (view spoiler)[ They both push away and I’d say that the H is the main pursuer of the relationship (hide spoiler)]Heat level: Good. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not very much and not so much it takes away from the story.Descriptive sex: YesOW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes (view spoiler)[ The h is betrothed to OM when they meet (hide spoiler)]Sex scene with OW or OM: NoCheating: NoSeparation: Yes (view spoiler)[They are separated shortly (days/week/s?), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time. (hide spoiler)]Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[Child abandonment (partially on page), rape of side character (off page), and the h was a virgin (hide spoiler)]Closure: This had pretty good closure in the epilogue but there wasn’t enough time experiencing their HEA for me to be satisfied because the end was so close to their conflict resolution. I would still call this a HEA though (view spoiler)[they’re married with children (hide spoiler)].Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers(view spoiler)[- Does Not have cheating- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM- Does have both the h and H pushing away- Does have a separation between the h and H- Does Not have abuse- Does have a HEA ending (hide spoiler)]

4 STARS This was a fantastic start to a new series and now I'm excited for the rest books!I enjoyed a lot this one,the premise was great and there was a twist that I wasn't expected! Mick and Aslyn’s romance was fun and flirty! I fell in love with Mick , He wanted the best for Aslyn!I like them together, and they make me smile a lot!Overall it was a great story , There was so much to love about the story and the characters were lovable!     

This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Lorraine Heath introduces us to a sensual love affair that takes us back in time to the spicy Victorian Era in London, England. A time of growth in the sciences, politics, and human rights. These two people come together and learn to fight with having all of society against them being together...HOLY SMOKES!!! This book just blew me away here, and I just didn't want to put it away. I have had such admiration for Lorraine Heath, and over the years she has become one of my favorites here. She has such a solid talent in writing historical romances, and I got a kick out of her delving into the Victorian Era. This story introduces the reader to an aspect of Victorian culture that very few know about...baby farmers. This is actually a very heartwrenching aspect of society and one of the "skeletons" on England and I was really happy that Lorraine Heath did such great research here and implemented this aspect into the story.Our wonderful key players in the story are: Mick Trewlove, is a commoner, he was deposited and abandoned by his real parents to be thrown away to a baby farm, but his adopted mother took him in and raised him along with his siblings. Mick has created his own wealth and power but is out for revenge so his father will finally admit that Mick is his son. Aslyn Hastings, is part of the Ton, her parents died and she was brought in and became the war of the Duke and Duchess of Hedley. Even though she has always has done what was expected of her, she dreams of adventure and passion. Beyond Scandal and Desire is such a sensational romance and I totally got a kick out of this book and I honestly didn't want it to end. This story made me realize why I fell in love with Lorraine Heath in the first place and this book was pretty epic in its own way.This story begins when our hero Mick, is out on his journey for revenge and to be claimed by his real father. So his plan is to make his "brother" lose everything including his almost betrothed. Aslyn has always known that her future is to marry the Duke's son, even though she doesn't love him the way that a woman should love the man she is supposed to marry. When she meets Mick in the gardens, she is intrigued because he stirs desire, passion that she has never felt before.She could practically see it coming from him in waves that had the power to encompass everything around him--including herself. She wanted to experience that power, be drawn into it, captured by it, seduced within it.Through a set of events, Mick and Aslyn run into each other and the chemistry between them in obvious even though Aslyn knows she is supposed to marry another man, she honestly doesn't feel like she can. Especially when her betrothed starts to change when his desperation for gambling takes a twist. The man that she really wants is Mick, a man that the Duke and his wife DONT approve of. But Mick is the man that she is beginning to love and wants to fight for them. But she will find out that Mick has a mission, one that could bring downfall to the family that she loves dearly.Mick couldn't help but wonder if sometimes heartache was needed in order to move forward.I was really intrigued by the turn of events that bring this couple together. There were such sensuality and endearing romantic qualities that pulled me into this story so completely. I just loved every moment that Mick and Aslyn have together. From the sexy flirting to Mick showing Aslyn another side to him, to a journey of forgiveness and redemption. I really was cheering for these two from the beginning. There was such class to their relationship. I really adored the way that they court and fall in love. There were so many tender moments that made me "sigh" in that sweet romantic way that gives you all the warm fuzzies. This is the epitome of ROMANCE and as I was reading this delightful story, I was reminded of this author, the reason I love romance in fiction and why it does so much for me. This book just made me happy, grinning all the way, and I immersed myself completely in this beautiful story.I don't care. When I am with you, I feel as though, for the first time in my life, I am real, I am seen. It's difficult to explain, but I want to experience everything with you that a woman can experience.I really fell in love with the siblings though, and seeing their eccentricities and their bond as a family even if it's not by blood. I love how protective Mick is of them and even though they frustrate him at times, he is all about giving them what they dream and desire. Especially to his sisters, he would do anything for even if it means buying a parasol or helping a sister set up a bar. And I felt that Lorraine Heath did a tremendous job in showing the tragic elements of Baby Farming. It definitely broke my heart seeing it in this story and how society viewed children born "on the other side of the blanket" as it were.Overall Beyond Scandal and Desire is a stunning beginning to a new series, a story of true heart, hidden secrets and a true love affair that sings to your heart!!! INCREDIBLY HEARTFELT!If I touch you, Aslyn, I'm not going to stop touching you until I've touched every aspect of you[foogallery id="49161"]

Deliver me from revenge plots! I usually find them unpleasant and unbelievable. In the capable hands of Lorraine Heath, however, Mick Trewlove's desire for revenge against his noble father becomes a moving story of love and courage, leading not only to his redemption but also the deliverance of those who have wronged him. Mick is the bastard son of the Duke of Hedley, given away at birth to a “baby farmer.” (This was the dreadful practice of impoverished women taking in by-blows for money and causing their deaths by starvation or neglect.) In Mick's case, Ettie Trewlove had lost her own children to typhus and in her loneliness kept Mick and several other babies to raise as her own. It was a loving but desperately poor family, which led Mick to begin working at the age of eight. Through his native intelligence and capacity for hard work, at age thirty Mick is a wealthy man engaged in various commercial endeavors, his most recent being the opening of a grand hotel and shopping area in a formerly blighted section of London.Mick deeply desires to be acknowledged as Hedley's son, even though he would still be considered illegitimate. Hedley has rebuffed all of Mick's pleas for recognition, so Mick has devised a plot to get revenge by ruining Hedley's heir, Lord Kipwick, along with Hedley's ward, Lady Aslyn Hastings. Kip and Aslyn have been raised together after the deaths of Aslyn's parents; they and everyone else expect the couple to marry. Mick intends to use his charms on Aslyn, ruin her, and blackmail the duke into admitting publicly that Mick is his son. To that end, Mick arranges an “accidental” meeting among Kip, Aslyn, Mick's charming young sister, and himself at Cremorne pleasure gardens. The attraction between Mick and Aslyn is immediate, and thus begins a series of similar “accidental” encounters where Mick discovers that Aslyn is not silly, stuck-up young lady typical of her class, and Aslyn comes to see that Mick is a gentleman of substance despite his birth and upbringing. Mick also realizes that Kip has a weakness for gambling and that he is not very good at it. When Mick arranges for Kip to be admitted to an exclusive gambling den owned by Mick's brother, all the elements of Mick's plan begin to fall into place.At this point, however, the revenge element of the plotline begins to recede, and the romance takes center stage. Heath does not rush her fences, and I took great pleasure in watching their attraction grow. Aslyn had been so protected by her guardians that she literally had never left the house without two maids and two footmen accompanying her. Although she moved about in society, she had virtually no friends and given that she was intended to be Kip's wife had never been courted by any eligible gentlemen. It was invigorating to watch Aslyn emerge from her cocoon and sprout wings. Again, Heath tells this part of the story gradually and quite believably. As Aslyn begins losing her heart to Mick and Kip loses his fortune to Mick's brother, the book became a page-turner for me. I was caught up in Mick and Aslyn's romance, along with the lives of all the secondary characters, and although Heath was clearly setting the scene for future installments in this new series, I never got that feeling of sequel-bait. I do feel, however, that events toward the end, while wonderfully clever and surprising, were rushed a bit, and I wouldn't have minded reading an extra fifty or so pages. Beyond Scandal and Desire was very close to a five-star book for me, but as I said, revenge plots give me trouble. I suppose that my having the sensibilities of a 21st century American makes it particularly difficult to appreciate Mick's desire for recognition from his father and the nobility, especially given that Mick was immensely wealthy and respected among the business class. And while I developed a rather strong tendre for the man, he was just a bit too good to be true. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book, staying up late one night to finish it, and am certainly looking forward to the next installment in the series. Note: I see that Audible has the audiobook version, narrated by Kate Reading, who is just about my favorite female narrator. There goes one credit.

I found a new series!! Put everything else aside..Soon after starting this story it showed potential of being a new favorite. It continued to get better and better even when a part of me expected to be disappointed at any point halfway through then on. “She’d never seen anyone look so marvelously masculine... He looked up and pierced her with his blue gaze. It was like the one time she dared to climb a tree, fallen from her perch, and hit the ground HARD. She struggled to draw in breath; thought it would be forever denied to her, and then it swooshed back in with a sweet delicious ache.”Such a fun story that was brilliantly performed by a personal favorite Kate Reading in audio. Absolutely adore the chemistry of this couple.. just enough sweet & with a whole lotta hawt hawt and hawter!! Enjoy the fireworks!

I love Lorraine Heath's books a lot, I prefered the Hellions of Havisham Hall series a little better, but this one was really good too.Mick and Aslyn are both great and lovable characters, and I even liked Kip too. I didn't expected that twist in the end of the story.

This was a most unusual Regency Romance-yes, there's the requisite lady, but her lover isn't a member of the aristocracy-in fact, he is quite literally a bastard, and he's not above using others to get his father to acknowledge him.Lady Aslyn Hastings is betrothed to the son of the Duke who took her in and raised her after she was orphaned-but she feels that there must be something more out there than the tepid interest he takes in her- and definitely more than the life she lives as the sheltered daughter of a house where the Duchess never stirs foot outside the home and insists that Aslyn take two footmen and two maids with her whenever she does venture out for a bit of shopping.When Aslyn finally coerces her fiance to take her to the park for a visit, they run into Mick Trewlove, the illegitimate son of a Duke who was raised by a woman who took in the upper classes by-blows. Mick was fortunate to escape the death that awaited many children in similar circumstances and has risen literally from the ashes to become a wealthy businessman. But his ultimate goal is to have his father acknowledge him,-and he plans to ruin the Duke's legitimate heir, using Lady Aslyn as part of his plot. But what neither Aslyn nor Mick counted on was the fiery heat that drew them to each other, nor the admiration each had for the other-attraction that only grew as they spent more stolen time together. Things are not always as they seem, however, and a happily ever after seems more distant than ever when old secrets come to light. Can Mick forego his revenge and find a way to be with Aslyn?Very seldom is the issue of the base-born aristocracy dealt with in books of this era, but it had to be a significant social problem. As is mentioned in the book, many of such children died or were killed in clandestine settings. The book doesn't deal directly with, but implies the case for nature versus nurture. If Mick weren't the son of a Duke, would he have accomplished what he did?All in all, a very enjoyable read, with admirable characters, an intricate plot, and a real feel for a fascinating time in history.

WOW, Just WOW! Anyone who follows my reviews knows I read A LOT of books, but rarely do I want to cry at the end of book as much I as did this one - not because it was sad, but because it was over! I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! Ms. Heath has a way with words, she has the ability to draw a reader in and force them to become invested in her characters - their joy is your joy, their pain is your pain, their troubles become your troubles - it is a rare treat to find an author who has this talent and an amazing gift for anyone lucky enough to read the book.This is the first book in the Sins for All Seasons Series, the series is centered around the Widow Ettie Trewlove and the children she raised, who are all illegitimate cast-offs. Ms. Heath sets up the series and introduces us to the future characters, but never does it feel like this book is just a set up for the series, Mick Trewlove and Lady Aslyn Hastings are truly the stars and the main focus of the book. Mick knows that the Duke of Hedley is his father and wants to be acknowledged as such. He is a wealthy self-made man who literally pulled himself from the gutter and forged an empire. But he longs for the respect and acceptance of the nobility, he is sure if his father would acknowledge their connection, doors would be opened to him. He has written to the duke several times, but after responding that he has no bastard to the first letter, the duke has ignored him. Mick wants his acknowledgement more than anything in the world and hatches a plan. If the duke won't accept him, Mick will ruin his heir.Lady Aslyn Hastings in the orphaned daughter of an earl and the ward of the Duke of Hedley. She has lived with the family since she was a young child and though it has not been officially announced, she and everyone in society assume that she will marry Hedley's son and heir, the Earl of Kipwick and affectionately known as Kip. Aslyn has been sheltered and knows little of the world, the duchess is a recluse and extremely over protective of her. Aslyn longs for excitement and begs Kip to take her to Cremorne Gardens. This is where Mick and Aslyn meet for the first time.Mick along with his sister Fancy are at the gardens and "happen" to run into Kip and Aslyn. Kip knows of Mick and longs to gain entrance to his brother Aiden's club - The Cerberus Club. After a bit of friendly chatter, Mick tells Kip, he will take him to the club. Meanwhile, Aslyn is mesmerized by Mick, never has she had such a reaction to a man and it makes her question her feelings for Kip.Over the next few days, Mick enacts his plan and plays on Kip's weakness for gambling, he also begins to "woo" Aslyn. He plans to steal her from Kip and bring Kip to ruin, thinking he will then be able to force the duke's hand. What he didn't plan for was Aslyn or his reaction to her.This is an amazing story, it is well written, flows wonderfully, there are secrets, betrayal, moments of wonder and joy, moments of immense heartache, steamy love scenes, shocking twists that have even bigger shocking twists and a truly beautiful soul-mate type love. I cannot recommend this book enough, I will definitely be re-reading this one and cannot wait for the next book in the series.*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher*