The Bishop family was shunned by society when their eldest daughter was born with a spinal deformity. When their youngest daughter, Amelia, suddenly receives a proposal from an earl, they are thrust back into the social whirl.

Amelia is unsettled by the sudden proposal and her acceptance. She only ever dreamed about the boy next door, Nicholas Wakefield. As a second son, Nicholas will never inherit, but when his father’s mind starts to slip away, he is called home from abroad to help run the estate. As Nicholas arrives home, he learns the love of his life, Amelia, is engaged. Though they have been best friends since early childhood, neither has confessed their love for each other. Once Amelia decides she and her fiancé will never suit, she does everything she can to get him to cry off. Some scandalous things are done with the help of Nicholas, or that of his best friend, Jasper, Viscount Bellamy and heir to the Duke of Albermarle. With two powerful men at her side, she should be able to dissuade her would-be husband. But things aren’t so easy for Amelia.

I fell for Nicholas immediately. His unconditional love for Amelia is tested throughout the novel, but his strength and character create the hero needed to match wits with his lady love. Amelia’s lust for life for herself and her sister, Julia, had me laughing and crying at times. She took some desperate risks on her journey to her happily ever after, but she did it with a little help from her friends!

I can’t wait to read the next novel in the series! Fingers crossed Julia will find the man of her dreams.

I 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.

This book was such a delightful read. Ms. Bell has created characters that are not your typical Regency hero and heroine. I loved that! Amelia Bishop is engaged to Lord Montrose and when she tries to end it, he refuses to call the engagement off. Amelia enlists the help of her childhood friend, Nicholas Wakefield, and together they'll pull off one scandal after another. Can Amelia see that the perfect man for her is right in front of her eyes?

This was a very entertaining story especially with the different scandals Amelia tries, but Jasper, Nicholas's friend and heir to a dukedom, and Amelia's sister, Julia, nearly steal the show. Jasper was funny, witty and oh so deliciously scandalous and Julia's take no prisoners attitude was a refreshing change from the usual one-dimensional secondary characters. I can't wait to read their story.

Fans of Regency romance will definitely enjoy this book.

This was my first book by Kimberly Bell and it won't be my last. I am excited to hear Julia's story.
I loved the humor in this book. The interaction between Amelia and Julia was great. I wish they had more exploits in the story. I really enjoyed Jasper, the humorous best friend of our hero Nick, he was a quick favorite. I laughed out loud while reading this and was sad to finish.
It was a little long and dragged towards the end. The train ride at the end could have been taken out and I would have lost nothing in the story.
This really is a great book to get lost in.

Amelia and her sister are inseparable. She has become engaged. Nick is their neighbor and the three use to be together all the time, until he was sent away.
Kimberly Bell's descriptions are wonderful. They make things come to life, and become more vivid. The characters, Julia with her bad spine, her mother who is very selfish and her father, is all love, become real.. Nick's family, at least his parents, were stiff, authoritarian, seeming not to love their children, while his brother, was loving and gentle. They all combined to make a heck of a story. I could see myself racing along with the girls to either the trees or the meadow. The plot swirled around the characters, descriptions and bought them smoothly together. and concisely. It was masterful, the way they all blended to make an excellent read. I very definitely, recommend this book for older readers. It has very racy moments. I was given this book at Net Galley for an honest review.

The Importance of Being Scandalous
by Kimberly Bell
it was amazing

BUY BUY BUY BUY !
A riveting read! I must say page one on, I was hooked! Can a person make so many choices and still not have happen what they are aiming for? I totally enjoyed myself making my way through this story. I laughed at times, and at others shook my head and just kept reading! I was totally captivated and was so very sad when it ended. This is not a slightly unknown author to me. However, after reading this, I believe I will get much more familiar with her! I loved the way she writes. I enjoyed the characters and the way she sets up her story and captures your attention and keeps it! So I can only say , buy the book and sit back and just enjoy it! I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

Nicholas Wakefield returns home after two years travelling in Europe to find his father is ill & forgetting things & the love of his life Amelia Bishop is engaged. Amelia also loves her best friend Nicholas, her fiancé Embry the Earl of Montrose doesn’t make her tingle like Nicholas does. Then Embry says something against her handicapped sister Julia & Amelia tries to break the engagement but Embry will have none of it, so drastic measures are called for.
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 the Sinners ball attended by only the wickedest, most debauched members of society.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 neighbouring Bishop family would be unacceptable…
But Nicholas would give up everything 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.
A lovely read & SO entertaining, the plot is straight forward & is well paced & doesn’t flag. The characters have depth & are very likeable. Parts of the book had me in stitches especially Mia getting drunk – hilarious & Nick so honourable, not many men would have walked or run away. Julia is very well portrayed & I was so wanting her to meet Jasper. The trope of best friends to lovers is tried & tested & this novel doesn’t disappoint in any way. All in all a delightful novel with matchmaking mothers, horrible fiancé, a wilful heroine & gorgeous hero what more could you want

I loved it. It's a well-written story. Characters are also well developed. I especially adored Mia. She is exactly the kind of heroine I love to read about. She is funny, strong, fiercely loyal to those she loves, and a beautiful person inside and out. I think this book is a must reads for historical romance fan, and I'd definitely be recommending it to my friends.

This is a rather sweet friends to lovers romance. Sisters Amelie and Julia Bishop have been friends with their neighbor Nicholas Wakefield since childhood. However, Amelie and Nicholas have had romantic feelings for one another that neither has spoken of. When Nicholas comes back after years traveling abroad, he finds Amelie has become engaged to someone else, but his feelings are as strong as ever. Amelie realizes that her fiancee isn't right for her and that she doesn't want to be married at all as it will take her away from her sister, so she sets about trying to break off her engagement, which requires more effort than planned since her fiancee doesn't seem to want to let her go...

I really enjoyed the characters, both the main characters Amelie and Nicholas, as well as Amelie's sister Julia, Nicholas's best friend Jasper, and both their families, as they all complimented each other and were vibrantly written. I hope that we get to see Julia get her happy ending, as it seems like she deserves it after everything shes been through.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nick and Mia are a new favorite along with this author. A new must read! Definitely an author for my must read list,! I certainly hope Julie has a story as well as Jasper and Ruby. The characters make you feel like you are there with them all the very best of friends! How soon until the next one? I cannot wait!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for honest review. This is the first in an new series by and a new author for me as well. This was just a fun read. I loved every second of it! The only downside was I wish her man would have been stronger and stood up for what he wanted. The beginning was also a little slow but it picked up and was a good solid read.

Amelia likes to tell Nick her thoughts, "Amelia wanted to do married things with Nick. They could hide away in the woods and be naked all the time. And she told him so." Drunk Amelia means a handsy Amelia, “do you have hair everywhere? How far does it go?” She reached for the buttons on the fall, but his hands trapped hers, bringing them to his lips." I liked this book, Nick and Amelia suited each other perfectly.

Simply a wonderful historical romance. Totally enjoyed it from start to finish!

Amelia and Nicholas have been close friends since childhood. They also harbor deep feelings for one another, which everyone but themselves is aware of. Unfortunately though, Amelia is engaged to another. This is an amusing story about how she tries to end her engagement by becoming an unsuitable fiancee, and how he tries to win her love, despite the disapproval of both families.

I enjoyed this book; found it very entertaining. Amelia is a likeable character, and so is Nicholas. He is not the typical alpha rake that we come across in this genre. In fact, he's a romantic, and certainly not accustomed to breaking rules.

I felt that Nicholas' friend, Jasper, almost stole the show. He was actually my favorite character, with his bold, yet jovial personality. You can't help but like him.

My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for the pleasure of reading and reviewing The Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell.

A great love story with many twists and turns- I do mean the crazy characters! The story flowed well and I felt a part of the story. I wanted it to keep going even if we got our happy endding. What about the secondary characters? They were awesome. I hope there is more to come.

Loved this book! It grabbed me from the beginning and drew me to the conclusion. I wish I wasn't done with it! A great read! you will love this book!

Kimberly Bell is my new go to author for Regency readers' advisory.

This novel was a good read. It contains love, romance, action, adventure, and mischief. This story involves fighting for what you want, finding your own happiness and overcoming obstacles that try to come and ruin the happiness one craves.
Amelia Bishop is engaged to Lord Montrose. Amelia does not want to marry him, but feels she mist due to her family. She loves her sister, Julia, who has a handicap. People say things about Julia and it hurts Amelia. Their mother even tells Julia to avoid parties so people do not see that she is a cripple.
Nicholas Wakefield is a second son and has returned from abroad. He has been in love with Amelia since they were kids and when he gets the courage to tell her his feelings, he finds out she is engaged. However, he knows Mia is not happy.
When Mia tries to break the betrothal, Montrose blackmails her by using her family. Mia decides to ask for Nick's help in making her an unsuitable bride for her fiancee. Nick asks for help from his friend, Jasper De Vere, a future duke and someone he met on his travels. As Mia does many things to make herself unsuitable, she thinks she does not want marriage and it causes an argument between her and Nick. Nick has his own family issues and they do not want him involved in any scandal. However, Nick still helps Mia when she gets into trouble. Still, there are those who will plot to keep Mia and Nick apart. Will they be successful or will Nick and Mia realize that they both have been in love with each since they were kids?