I just loved getting to enter this world. It was just so easy to get lost in and I just had so much fun with these characters. I look forward to reading more wonderful stories in this series.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Just as he returns home, ready to tell his best friend, Amelia Bishop, that he loves her, Nicholas Wakefield, discovers she is engaged, and to an Earl. Though he is from an aristocratic family, he's only a second son, and has no hope of competing. So discovering that Amelia doesn't actually want to marry Lord Montrose, and she is dead set on doing whatever it takes for him to agree to let her call it off, Nick can't let her go through with it alone.

This book filled in so many gaps for me. I actually read book 2, A Scandal by Any Other Name, first, and loved the camaraderie between Nicholas and Amelia, and Julia and Jasper. Being able to read Nicholas and Amelia's own story, and seeing how Jasper came to be involved in the family, was fantastic. I hated Amelia and Julia's mother as much as I did in the other book, and especially when we saw how she was willing to let her own daughter be kidnapped, and basically sold off to marry a man she didn't want, but because he had a title it was okay, was abhorrent. Amelia's feistyness, and her actions over the course of the book were joyful, and made this book so much more enjoyable. She and Nicholas were great together, and though it took a while to get there, the journey was part of the fun.

A fun, light read with some hot scenes!
While I liked this book, I couldn't take it seriously as a real and believable story. Some of the scenes where Amelia is trying to get rid of her fiance were enjoyable. But I really felt as if I had read this story before or else it was very similar to one I had read by another author, even down to the disabled sister. I did like how close the sisters were and that Nick and Amelia had that "friends to possible love interest" angst throughout.
While this isn't bad, the writing is good, not great, I wouldn't rush to read it again. There were just some questions left hanging and as mentioned, a little too over the top to be believable. The sex scenes (and I like them hot!) went on a little bit too much (like page after page). And Nicholas for all his good heart, I wanted to kick and yell for him to get his head out of his a**! The back and forth of his feelings just wore me out. And Amelia was young and it showed in her airheadedness which I don't like in my heroines.
That all said, I would recommend this to a friend as it is a fun read, some good characters (like Jasper), a thorough and well-done storyline. 3-3.5 stars
I received and complimentary copy and am leaving a voluntary review

I adored this story. This is a friends to lovers story and it's the friendship between all the leads that just makes this story so good. Also, the banter and dialogue is so good. It's quippy and fun and heartfelt and....just chef's kiss. Also, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a steamy book, but, oh my, the last third of this book delivered the steam and I am here for it. Let's add another also. Also, this book had a lot of comedic moments that were just delightful. Fun, funny, cute, this book was a delightful read.

How do you get rid of a fiancé?
Amelia Bishop finds herself engaged to the Earl of Montrose. It is not what she really wants, but the man she wants is not in England. Nicholas Wakefield returned to England by request of his family. His first shock, his father has dementia. He may be the second son, but his parents need him to help with the family estate. His second shock is Amelia's engagement. Having loved her for years, he has been waiting for her to grow up. What can he do? Montrose shows his true self when he refuses to break the engagement. The only choice Amelia has is to do the most scandalous things possible. Nicolas tries to keep her safe, but she does not make it easy. Montrose is desparate to keep her at any cost, but not as much as Nicolas. Montrose is not a likeable character. He really gives me the creeps. Nicholas is sweet and charming. Jasper is Nicolas' friend and is the most outrageous.
Heat level 4 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This was a fun book with great characters. I found the story entertaining from beginning to end. I love stories with a “scandalous” undertone I just always laugh at what used to be considered taboo. I will be looking for more stories from this author!

I liked this romance story a lot. It was light and airy. Amelia and Nicholas brought fresh excitement and passion to the story. I enjoyed how the dialogue among the characters flowed between one another. I liked the topic of the story. The writer did a great job of keeping my attention to the book with the many different entertainments among the characters.
It was great that the book was a page turner. Also, I found the book easy to read. The writer kept the story simple for the readers and stuck to what the readers wanted. They wanted romance passion and exciting entertainment that came with a good book.

A horse race in trousers on Rotten Row. Visiting a gaming hall in a dress that would make her mother faint. Sneaking an invitation to a masquerade ball attended by only the wickedest, most debauched members of society…None of these things are scaring off bookish but strong-willed Amelia Bishop’s stuffy, egotistical fiancé. The only thing left is to entice childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield into a truly engagement-ending scandal. The Wakefields are the height of propriety, and Nicholas’s parents have made it clear a wife from the neighboring Bishop family would be unacceptable…But Nicholas would give up his family and his fortune if Amelia would ever see him as more than just a childhood friend. He’ll go along with her scheme, even if it means ruining them both, because he’s got a plan that will change her mind about him being merely the boy next door.
This was a pretty good book. It starts with a premise not used often in historical romances, where the heroine is trying to get out of her engagement. What happens from there will keep you tied to the pages. I loved both main characters as well as the primary side characters and their relationships with each. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

There's a lot that I appreciated about <i>The Importance of Being Scandalous</i>, but it took me weeks to get through it because I never got really carried away about the story.

My favorite character by far is Julia, Amelia's sister, who was born with spina bifida. As a result of her disability, her family has been shunned by high society, but Julia hasn't let the disappointments of life keep her from being fierce and fiery. She's full of personality and spunk, and I love her spirit. I also really admire the strong relationship between Amelia and Julia, as well as their consistent hijinks.

The plot centers on Amelia's impending marriage to Lord Montrose, who, Amelia increasingly realizes, is merely trying to replace his beloved late fiancee. Amelia realizes her feelings for her childhood friend, Nicholas, and Montrose refuses to let her out of the engagement. As such, she begins a campaign of being so scandalous, Montrose will let her go. Imagine my surprise to see a bisexual orgy in a historical romance that isn't specifically from an LGBT imprint!

The romance is fine, and I like both Nicholas and Amelia well enough, but, though well written, I just never really got sucked in. I would like to read Julia's book, but, based on my enjoyment level here, I'm not willing to spend 6 bucks on it. I'll keep it on my to-read and hope it shows up on Scribd someday. *crosses fingers*

A mixture of laughter and intensity. Serious but fun story that I enjoyed immensely. Kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. The plot line is excellent, the characters are well thought out and multidimensional. I absolutely adored the secondary characters as much as the main characters. Can't wait for the next book in the story

I really love Nicholas and Amelia's story of childhood sweethearts separated by the social mores of the time. Amelia is the younger daughter of a wealthy merchant/minor noble whose older sister Julia was born with a birth defect. Consequently, the girls are viewed as "tainted goods". Amelia is sweet and beautiful, Julia even more so, and they're both smart as whips. Amelia find herself betrothed to an Earl she barely knows and doesn't love her. Her best friend and childhood sweetheart heart, Nick, is called home from abroad to help manage the family estates. Nicholas' family have been peers of the realm for centuries and are confronted with the issue of his father's growing dementia. Nick is a second son and expected to clean up the mess and keep a lid on the families secret. He has also finally come to grips with his love for Amelia and plans on asking for her hand. only to find out that she is essentially betrothed to someone else. The titular scandal revolves around Amelia's scheme to break the engagement and remain a spinster. She doesn't dare to hope to marry Nicholas.
Things I like about this book
I enjoyed getting to know the main characters. Their lifelong friendship and love felt genuine and sweet. They were a couple I could root for. Overall, the story was an interesting twist on the typical tropes you see in the genre.
Things that bothered me
I wish Julia's character had been developed more. She was extremely interesting and I really wanted to know more about her. I hope that she has her own book because this girl really deserves her own story.
The character of Amelia's fiancé the Earl needed to be developed more. He was the villain of the piece but it was never really explained why to my satisfaction. If I'm supposed to "hate" someone explain to me why am hating this person other than the fact that he's not the hero/love interest that the heroine is supposed to end up with at the end.
All in all, The Importance of Being Scandalous was a lovely diversion for a rainy afternoon.

How do you get rid of an unwanted fiancée? Being rude to his family members isn’t working, wearing trousers and racing in the park isn’t working, even spending the night dressed scandalously in a gaming hell isn’t working. Amelia Bishop is running out of ways to chase off her unwanted fiancée after he shows his true feelings about her disabled and beloved younger sister. No matter what she does he’s determined to have her for his wife…even if he has to blackmail her. As a last resort Amelia turns to her childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield, between them they must be able to cause an engagement-ending scandal.

Ignore my terrible blurb! Have you ever watched the film “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”? This reminded me of the historical romance version of that, only instead of falling in love with Matthew McConaughey, she falls for her best-friend, who has been in love with her for years, and together they try and get rid of the odious fiancée after said fiancée threatens her family. Okay, maybe it’s nothing like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”… Anyway, don’t let my bad book descriptions put you off, ignore them and go out and read this book, I highly recommend it. It managed to be sweet, touching and funny all at once.

What stole the show for me though wasn’t the main characters and their romance, although it was adorable. It wasn’t even the heroines shenanigans, which were hilarious, have you read Sarah Macleans Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake? It reminded me a little of that. For me, it was Julia, Amelia’s vivacious, disabled, slightly younger sister, and Jasper, Nicholas’ exuberant and rakeish best friend that stole the show. Amelia and Nicholas were cute, but they were fairly sensible characters so having Jasper and Julia in the background really added the book some much needed humour and irreverence.

This was a great historical romance and my first book by Kimberly Bell, I’m feeling very pleased with myself that I decided to take a chance and give this book a try. I am now impatiently waiting the next book in the series which will be about my favourite characters Julia and Jasper.

Wow! What a wonderful surprise this book was for me. This being the first book I have read of Kimberly Bell and she did not disappoint! Nick and Amelia are a wonderful couple. But the other characters are awesome. I hope that Ms. Bell writes a book about Jasper, Julia and Lady Ruby. I'm looking forward to reading her next book. My only wish is that I won't have to wait for very long.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SCANDALOUS is a funny, sweet and romantic story. I loved the characters. Amelia is walking the line between being a good daughter/sister and going after what she really wants. Nicholas knows exactly what he wants, but he has to get a backbone and go after her. The secondary characters really made the book fantastic. Amelia's sister, Julia, and Jasper, best friend to Nicholas add so much to the book and without them I don't believe that the book would have been as great of a read. I hope that the next book from Kimberly Bell features Julia. I really want her to get a happily ever after.

Rating:

the book girl gives THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SCANDALOUS a 4/5

The Importance of Being Scandalous, is a story about being engaged to a man, but then, the man you have always loved, returns from his Grand tour...but SO much more.

But I'm not going to get too much into the story, as I wouldn't want to give the story away. But I will say, I did like both Amelia and Nicolas from the beginning, but Julia! She truly stole the book for me!

When it came to the plot, I found it a little slow in the beginning, but it was only when the truth, and the insanity came to life, that the book really gripped me, and I honestly couldn't put it down! As it really did become a a splendid book!

I give The Importance of Being Scandalous 4 stars!

Nicholas Wakefield, second son to the Marquess of Wakefield, comes home after years abroad at the behest of his mother. He’s not exactly sure why she has summoned him home, but he does know one thing… that he is still desperately in love with Amelia Bishop. He intends to finally declare himself and let Mia know his feelings extend beyond friendship. But then his mother drops not one, but two bombshells that rock his world. His father is slowly losing his mind and she wants him to stay and help run the estate, and the woman he has loved forever is engaged to be married.

Amelia and Julia Bishop are very close. Not only sisters, but best friends and partners in crime. Julia suffers from a spinal deformity and has spent her life undergoing surgeries and visiting with doctors. The Bishop family is a close, loving one and after being shunned by the ton for Julia’s medical condition have lived a life of peace in the country. Amelia has accepted a proposal of marriage from Lord Montrose, but she has quite a few reservations. But her sister has urged her to wed and settle into married life with the rich, titled gentleman and her mother seems to be thrilled by the union. Then Nicholas, her other childhood best friend, comes home and Montrose condones some things said about her sister at their engagement party and all her reservations turn into the desire to end her engagement and stay unwed and by her sister’s side. Only Montrose won’t let her go and uses blackmail in order to keep her by his side. So what’s a girl to do, but turn to scandal in order to force him to break their engagement.

I liked so much of this book. The relationship between the sisters, the wonderful, witty dialogue, Nicholas and his undying love for Amelia, and finally the awesomely wicked comic relief of Nicholas’s friend Jasper. Kimberly Bell is a new to me author, but I feel like she is one that I’ll keep on my radar so I can add future releases to my TBR pile. I liked how well she wrote the friendship between Amelia, Julia and Nicholas. The three of them and their antics made me smile over and over. Nicholas had such a close relationship with Julia that she already knew all about his romantic feelings for Amelia. I did wonder why she kept pushing Amelia to marry Montrose knowing how much Nicholas loved her sister and how determined Amelia was to end her engagement, but I chalked it up to Julia wanted Amelia to get the chance to settle down and live the life she didn’t think she would ever have.

My one complaint is how long it took for the engagement to end. I kind of felt sorry for Montrose at first, then I absolutely didn’t, then I just wanted him to go away and for Amelia and Nicholas to succumb to their feelings for each other. I wish there had been more page time of Amelia and Nicholas talking about their relationship and how they wanted to move forward. The love scenes between the two were so well written, I just wish I had gotten more of them.

I’m just going to put this out there and hope for the best, I WANT JASPER AND JULIA TO END UP TOGETHER. From about the 50% mark I got this in my head and couldn’t let it go. I went to Goodreads, no synopsis. I went to the author’s website, no synopsis. I can’t think of a better hero for Julia and I will be so upset if someone else sweeps her off her feet and into his arms. I’ll keep my fingers crossed until Lady Julia’s Secret releases in January of 2018. Final Grade- B-

Favorite Quote:

“I love you Amelia Bishop. I have loved you every day since the day we met. And I will love you long after I am gone from this earth.”

Nicholas Wakefield has been summoned home from his two year sojourn where he studied art, pleasure, and generally enjoyed himself. As the second son of a marquess, Nick is not the heir, and is surprised to learn that his parents require him to begin learning to administer the country estate. The heir, Philip, is in town and is currently heavily involved in politics. Nick finds out that his father has begun to have memory loss, and he is getting worse. Nick is actually glad to help and to have a purpose, and truth be told, he’s glad to be home. Though he enjoyed every bit of his journey, Nick has loved Mia, the girl next door, since he was nine years old. He wrote letters to her every day, which he never sent, but now he’s ready to declare himself. Only – one of the first things he learns is that Mia is engaged.

Amelia (Mia) Bailey and her family are considered social outcasts, so when she receives a marriage proposal from a respected earl, she accepts in order to uplift her family’s reputation. Her fanatical mother and her sister, Julia, strongly encourage the match. Besides, she gave up on love years ago when her crush, Nick, was attracted to a young dairy maid, breaking her heart. She’s happy to see Nick when he comes to call, because their twelve year friendship is solid. Though Nick is heartbroken at losing Mia before he could even propose, he vows to continue to be her friend.

Mia begins to discover that she feels “tingly” things while with Nick that she doesn’t feel with her fiancé, Embry. Though she intends to carry on with her engagement, it soon becomes apparent that Embry is not the gentleman she thought him to be. He has no intention of letting Mia slip away, and he’s prepared to go to drastic lengths to keep her. Mia is also under extreme pressure from her mother, who is desperate to re-enter society at any cost. Even her sister, Julia, who doesn’t take part in society due to an injury, urges her to go through with the marriage. She realizes that she and Nick love each other, but there may not be a way for them to be together.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SCANDALOUS is a combination of a sweet romance and a madcap adventure. I never grasped why Nick’s mother despised her neighbors so much – it seemed that her disdain went so much deeper than their inferior social status. It also seemed that the ostracizing of the Bailey family was extreme just because they weren’t “old money” and had a daughter with an infirmity. Mia’s mother went over the top in her desire to get back into society, and I never felt that it was fully explained. Still, Nick’s steadfastness and dedication are truly romantic, and once Mia determined not to marry Embry, their encounters sent the steam billowing. There is also plenty of humor, drama, scheming, scandal, and some memorable secondary characters, which made for a very enjoyable and different read. I am looking forward to the upcoming second book, as I can’t wait to see how author Kimberly Bell matches the seemingly unlikely pair of Julia and Jasper, Nick’s very dissolute friend.

I can now truly appreciate the importance of being scandalous!

There’s a plethora of adjectives needed to describe the characters in this book- flamboyant, rakish, daring, handsome, loyal, beautiful, willful, dedicated – take your pick. I love them all…adjectives and characters. Nick, Amelia, Julia, and Jasper are my favorites of course, and I have a special place in my heart for Amelia and Julia’s dad. Mom and the no-good fiance? Not so much. Not all all really. Shame on them both, but they did make things interesting, not that they get any brownies points for that.

I adored Nick and I’m glad he came to his senses and found his spine before I stopped adoring him. Nice way to keep me on my toes waiting for the joining. Nick and Amelia were as dedicated to each other as two people could be, their love story having a little resemblance to Romeo and Juliet, except the hate between the families was only held by the mean mother. It was refreshing that dad was so supportive of his girls. Excellent job on Bell’s part nixing the cliche of mean, controlling dad. Kudos!

I anticipated each scandal. Couldn’t wait to see what she’d try next to get rid of Montrose. He was a total arse, as they say. He bugged me beyond belief, which translates to him doing his job since he was the villain of the piece. Oh, the shame! Wait, he had none.

But the real show-stealers? Jasper and Julia. These two are a mess. And the interesting part is they never met each other. Their dialogue alone was enough to keep me entranced. I found myself laughing out loud several times at the things they said and how they said them. They most definitely kept things interesting. Jasper added a little wild to Nick and Juliet did the same to Amelia. But they also saved them in so many ways, the main one being making them face who they really were and going after what they wanted. As bad as I wanted Nick to give Montrose a blow to the head, nose, face, etc. it was true to his character to restrain, but I appreciated that he didn’t just whimper away. He spoke his mind. Jasper was the punch-throwing one of the group. My heart tittered a bit, not that I condone violence, mind you. I just love me an alpha male.

I think Nick and Jasper are both catches each on their own, but what if someone could join them together? Perfect book boyfriend. I wouldn’t even know what to do with myself. I know the second in the series is coming, and I’m hoping it’s about Jasper and Julia getting together. Sending prayers to the book gods.

Such a fun read!

The characters in this new series (Tale of Two Sisters) are a whole lot of fun. Of course I loved Nick and Mia--yeah, a conversation could have resolved much of their problems, but somehow Ms. Bell made it seem believable that they took so long to figure that out--but their supporting characters were just as much fun. Given the series name, you know that Mia's sister Julia has to get her own story (next? Please next?) but I've also got high hopes for Nick's BFF Jasper (*cough* Julia's story *cough*) and Jasper's twin sister Ruby...so much to look forward to!

This was my first book from this author, but definitely not my last. I really enjoyed Ms. Bell's sense of humor and her unique take on family life and friendship in Victorian England (I agree, it is such a shame that Prince Albert met Victoria before Julia. Though I know Ms. Bell will more than make it up to her in her own book. Did I already suggest Jasper as the one to help her get over the loss? Yes?) and cannot wait to see what the rest of this series brings!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.