When Scandal Came to Town by Adele Clee | ARC Review

Series: Scandalous Sons, #3
Tropes & Traits: I've loved you for years; second chance; illegitimate hero
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency, London, England
Publication Date: 12.19.19
Heat Level: 4/5
Rating: 5 stars!

After professing to love and marry Benedict Cavanagh five years ago, Lady Cassandra Mills gave in to her father's haranguing and turned against Benedict, crying off from their engagement.  Since her rejection, the two have had nothing but cross words for each other, initiated by Cassandra, any time their paths have crossed.  Cassandra knows she doesn't deserve kindness or compassion from him, the man should hate her, but when Cassandra is kidnapped from a ball, drugged, and dumped half-naked in Hyde Park, it is Benedict who comes to her aid.

Though it pains him, Benedict Cavanagh, the beloved but illegitimate son of the Earl of Tregarth, has a conscience and finds he must do something to help his former love.  He was close to whisking her home before the day's first riders saw her in the park, but whoever staged Cassandra's elaborate ruination put paid to that plan.  When Cassandra asks Benedict to marry her, he finds himself unable to turn his back on her and the feelings she still stirs in him.  Cassandra has truly only ever wanted to marry Benedict, but now as they work together to learn who has been plotting against them, it is difficult to know who to trust and they must learn to rely on each other.  But with so much pain and betrayal still between them, and some unknown villain still striving to drive them apart, is it possible for them to rekindle their love again?

Firstly, I really loved this book.  Like Benedict's friends, I really didn't like Cassandra in the previous books because she was awful to Benedict and caused him such pain.  But love and hate are often closely related and her vitriol stemmed from her own heartbreak, which didn't make it okay, but I understood.  I loved seeing Cassandra break free of her father's selfish machinations and really come into her own, making decisions for herself based on what was best for her and Benedict.  I found Benedict to be a great hero, so mature and strong in character, and it was great to finally see him get his happily ever after.  He and Cassandra had such good chemistry, both in their physical relationship and in their emotional connection and it was great to see them get a second chance at happiness.  I found their interactions to be interesting to read and the secondary characters were great too.  Everyone had their own agendas and this bit of intrigue kept me invested in the story.  This is turning out to be one of my favorite series and I can't wait for the next installment.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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