His Scandal

by Gayle Callen

Book Overview

Taming a Rogue Lady Emmeline Prescott is shocked when Sir Alexander Thornton, the most incorrigible scoundrel in England, suddenly notices she even exists-and starts flirting with her! The dashing cad... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380821095
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Avon
• Length: 377 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

An enjoyable light read; starts off prosaic and lacking spark but *quickly* improves!

[1588, England] This book is the second in Gayle Callen's "His" series; Book 1 is His Betrothed, which features Viscount Spencer Thornton (the brother of this book's hero, Sir Alexander Thornton) and Book 3 is His Bride, whose hero is Sir Edmund Blackwell, Alex's best friend. I have not read the first book but was easily able to follow the plot, so it's not a problem if you read the series out of order. I read His Scandal six years ago and didn't remember the book but thought I had liked it, so thought to reread it. I was at first somewhat disappointed: the story starts off without much of a bang and seems pretty prosaic, with the plot coming off as contrived (it - and Emmeline and Alex's relationship - being driven by the ridiculous wager between Alex and Edmund). The main characters are a pleasure and the book quickly improves though, so if you start off thinking the same thing, don't be discouraged - keep reading and you won't be disappointed! Despite the often vapid and silly younger sister, most of the secondary characters are interesting and well-written and the chemistry between Emmy and Alex is sizzling. And of course, who doesn't enjoy a historical romance where the hero is a scandalous rake who can't help but fall under the spell of an older-sister heroine who is too often ignored ... until the hero finally sees her for the intelligent, unusual, beautiful, and wonderful woman she is? ::sigh:: MAIN CHARACTERS, Emmeline and Alexander: Lady Emmeline Prescott has always been in her younger sister, Blythe's, shadow - though over time this has become as much by outside influence as by choice. Regarding her younger sister almost as a daughter (they are 7 years apart), Emmy has practically raised her and sees it as her duty to look after Blythe and help her find a suitable husband who will love and care for her. Around seven years ago she once fancied herself in love with a young man, but he was a tutor and her father forbade the match, not thinking him to be of a suitable station. Since then, Emmy has given up on ever finding her own HEA and has convinced herself that she will be content with being a beloved elder sister and the aunt to Blythe's children. Emmy is a great heroine; she's strong and intelligent, kind and passionate, and definitely very easy to root for. She's suspicious of Alex's attraction to her, unbelieving that he could actually like anything about her - and once she admits that he desires her, she cannot imagine he feels anything other than lust. She finally realizes that they both need each other and can make each other happy and she - somewhat forcefully and surprisingly - takes matters into her own hands. Preceding the story, Sir Alexander Thornton spent ~2 years pretending to be his elder identical twin brother, while Spencer was in Spain spying for Queen Elizabeth (they didn't want anyone to know he was gone, so Alex pretended to be Spencer and every now and then reverted back to himself so that no one suspected ei

Timeless battle of the sexes

After living his twin's life for a year and a half, Sir Alexander Thornton has returned to his courtier's life. However, the pleasures of Queen Elizabeth's court have grown pallid compared to the challenges of overseeing his brother's estates during his masquerade. In an attempt to end his ennui, Alex and his best friend Edmund Blackwell wager that each will be the first to steal a kiss from a virtuous lady of the other's choosing. Edmund chooses the Lady Blythe Prescott, a daughter of the Marquess of Kent. What the rogue didn't count on, however, was Blythe's older sister, Emmeline. Lady Emmeline Prescott has resigned herself to never marrying nor raising a family. Now, she is determined that her sister marry her perfect match. Sir Alex Thornton is definitely NOT Blythe's perfect match. He is too experienced, too scandalous and too handsome for his own good. Sir Alex is trouble and Emmeline is going to prove it, even if she has to follow him everywhere. From tavern carousing to bear baiting dens, the rake finds himself shadowed by the determined spinster. Soon, Alex finds himself obsessed with Emmeline rather than Blythe, and Emmeline finds herself with a chance for happiness after all. Will she dare to risk all to get it? With HIS SCANDAL, Gayle Callen continues the story of the Thornton brothers which began with HIS BETROTHED. This diverting tale is a classic battle of the sexes made all the more interesting by Alex's flashes of vulnerability and Emmeline's blossoming spirit. The story moves along at a brisk pace with additional storylines that set the stage for the final story in this trilogy. With its vivid portrayal of Elizabethan life and the simmering sensuality of its main characters, HIS SCANDAL is a tale to savor. TheSchemer

An Elizabethan treasure

This was my first book by Gayle Callen, but it won't be my last. I loved this book! I admit I was a little leery of the Elizabethan setting, but Callen's writing makes it come alive with amazing approachability. Alex is a marvelous hero: gorgeous, tortured, hiding his hurts and broken dreams behind a laugh and a devilish smile. He's just out to steal a kiss from Emmeline's sister in order to win a bet, but he has to get past the big sister first...only to discover how intriguing she is. Then he only wants to make her see her own worth, until he realizes her can't get enough of her. Emmeline is an excellent heroine as well, thinking herself undesirable and living to see her sister well-married, but quite capable of standing up to Alex, until she begins to realize that she's falling under his spell.Callen delivers, with plenty of laughs, emotional depth, and intrigue, plus well-developed secondary characters. And the chemistry between Alex and Emmeline sparks right off the page. Great book!

Not all bets are straighforward...

The story starts out with Sir Alex placing a bet with his friend Sir Edmund that they could get a kiss from someone the other chose. This is apparently what happens you have bored ton members. But what Sir Alex doesn't count on is his chosen mark's sister Emmaline. Emmaline has decided spinsterdom is for her mostly due to her fathers sly manipulations, and she is going to see her sister wed well. Well Sir Alex has quite the reputation and she sets out to make sure that he doesn't interfere with her sister and at the same time feels quite an attraction for him herself. There is also intrigue, talk about twins, service to the Queen, and even some misunderstandings. It is a fun story to read and follow how the "opposites" attract.

WOW this is the first novel I have read by Ms. Callen!!

Wow this was a definite 5 star book! The characters were strong and interesting and she builds the sexual tension up so great! I was flipping the pages non stop and got no work done reading this book! I had to read it in one day! I am going to go back and read the rest of her books now.