Once Upon a Scandalous Secret: A Regency Historical Romance

By Cassandra Samuels

Duty made him her guardian. Desire made him break every rule.

Lord Anthony Ashton, spy and confirmed bachelor, becomes guardian to orphan Miss Lucinda Sterling, a clever, captivating beauty hidden away in a country finishing school for far too long.

Granted, with her long-awaited London season at last, Lucinda dreams of finding a husband and a place to belong. But a scandalous secret, long buried and tied to her father's mysterious death, threatens to shatter her reputation.

As Anthony guides Lucinda through the perils of the ton, he's drawn not only to her beauty but her unexpected resiliency in the face of whispered slander. Every stolen glance, every lingering touch pushes the bounds of propriety... and his self-control.

But falling for one's ward would end his career. And when the truth of her father's secret emerges, it tests not only their hearts, but their very lives.

Tropes you'll enjoy:

Guardian and Ward / Forbidden LoveSpy HeroHidden Secrets / Mysterious PastSlow Burn RomanceImproper Attraction / Crossing Social BoundariesInnocent Heroine Meets Dangerous WorldReputation in Peril / Scandal Threat

Spies Like Us Series

Book 1 - Once Upon a Wicked Wager

Book 2 - Once Upon a Scandalous Secret

Book 3 - Once Upon a Reckless Rogue

Book 4 - Once Upon a Devilish Duke

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1972086324
• ISBN13: 9781972086322
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.3"