‘The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton’ and the beautiful cover, made this book, hard to turn down. The book certainly lives up to the title, with Lily Layton, is a widow twice over, keeps a diary that is found by Oliver Carlyle, the Marquess of Ambrose. On reading the diary, he finds himself captivated by the woman who has such passionate thoughts, something that he has been looking for in his future wife. However, whilst he realises it is a woman currently present for his mother’s house party, he is unaware of who she is. He soon realises that the stranger he has meet in the hidden passages of his house, is the author of the diary, but without seeing her face, he is still baffled, only hoping that it is his mother’s companion Lily Layton. What follows, makes for a delicious read.
Both Oliver and Lily are very passionate characters, yet their intense relationship does not detract from their honourable nature. Ms Reid has definitely written a book that demonstrate how love can overcome differences in social status.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh Boy what a HOT story!!! I fell in love with Lily and Oliver from the start and did not want this story to end. It was that GOOD. The writing was spotless. The pace very smooth. The ending brought me to tears. The characters development amazing. This book is now going in my favourite pile. Definitely a Keeper.
I voluntarily review this book and all the opinions are all mine. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher.

I am well aware that this book is marked as erotica/romance, however I was a little bit unprepared for the graphic language used by the characters. I found myself unable to engage with either the characters or the story because of this. I think, personally, I just associate that type of conversation with modern day romances. I know it's not unusual for the time the book is set, I just found there to be too much of it. Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a scorcher! Such a brilliant story, too. Stacy Reid brings the heat along with an intricate story that I couldn’t put down. I love how the diary brought two people together when under the normal circumstances of that time period, it would have never happened. The chemistry is instantaneous and continues to ramp up throughout the story. This book is so full of emotion. I really felt for Lily and what she privately dealt with for so long. Oliver is such a sexy hero, but it’s his unfailing love for Lily that really makes him one of my new favorites. Get ready for all the feels with this fantastic story. This is Stacy Reid at her finest.

Holy cow, fan needed! First let me say that I rarely ever talk about how sensual a book is but this book - debauched, hot, yes please – all words to describe this story. Now onto what I really liked about the story. Ms. Reid’s writing is always engaging and romantic. The unconventional story drew me into the lives of Oliver and Lily. It flowed well and was a fast read. If you want a steamy read with loads of love and some tears, then try this story.

This is not the first I've read of Stacy Reid's work so I was happy to receive an advance copy via NetGalley. I really liked this. Well done. Good dialog. Quite steamy and the attraction between Lily and Oliver developed both day and night.
The reader just has to "ignore" the fact the intimacies between Lily and Oliver are in such darkness they do not recognize each other. They are able to disguise their voices throughout. Also, in spite of the nighttime intimacies, there is no recognition during the day.

Not for the faint heart, this is a wonderful read from start to finish, the storyline is interesting. Lily a ladies companion loses her diary which holds all her secret desires and she needs to retrieve it as soon as she can, Oliver, the son of her employer finds it and cannot believe he has found the one women who will complete him in every way, the only thing now is to find out the owner.

I received a copy and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

Yowza! Stacy Reid has the corner on historical romance but her latest delve into erotica may also be her forte.

Lily Layton, is a young widower (twice over), now serving as a lady’s maid. Her employer’s son has captivated her and is the muse for the lustful thoughts she captures in her diary. When Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose, discovers a diary in which he is mentioned, he believes he may have found his perfect match. Now he just has to find the “Lady”. When secrets come to light, will there be a possibility of a future or are some obstacles too difficult to overcome?

While the standard historical romances by Reid are still my favorite, the underlying story in this novel was well written.

I agreed to give a fair and honest review for this ARC so here goes. Compatibility. In ALL things. Nothing else matters (unless there is also screaming hot passion)

Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose, is planning to find a wife and has enlisted his mother to help him find the perfect woman. He is determined to be faithful to his wife even if that means giving up his baser desires. While walking the family estate he discovers a woman’s diary. Oliver is shocked to find it filled with scandalous entries and he is determined to find the woman who owns it.

Lily Layton is the companion of the Marquess’ mother. Having been twice widowed she is in a precarious position when her employer informs her that she is letting her go and that she needs to find another husband. Lily has been taught that her longing for passion is a sin and she has no wish to experience another marriage.

Sparks ignite when the two come together in a darkened hallway but when neither knows the identity of the other, it makes it all the harder to find each other in the daylight.

Stacy Reid is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. She writes an intriguing plot with dashes of humour and poignancy perfectly balanced. The sex scenes are scorching and fit in perfectly with the overall story. The characters are engaging and lovable.  

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was interesting premise and I really enjoyed how everything played out at the end. Just felt like it was a little rushed but, overall a very quick and historical romantic read.

If you get embarrassed easily this is not the book for you. The hot factor went up by 20 when reading. I was intrigued and squirming in my seat the whole time. I loved it. This book exploded with passion and made for an awesome and titillating read. I highly recommend to read this at home alone.

Lily Layton is a respectable vicar’s widow with a scandalous heart. Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose is ready to find a wife, yet his darker desires prevent him from marrying a young debutante. The romance between the two is very hot, the story is somewhat predictable. 4 stars.

The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton is hot, hot, hot! I love Stacy Reid's novels. Her books are super steamy with lively characters, emotion and lots of sexiness. Very high heat level in this book.
Lily, a twice-widowed companion, has dreamed of a lover who will make her burn. She writes all of her thoughts in her little diary and is worried beyond belief when she loses said diary. She has written about her lusty thoughts starring her employer's son - Oliver Marquess of Ambrose.
Oliver is ready to settle down and marry, but is having a hard time finding the right woman. He wants to be faithful, unlike his father, but wants a woman who will meet his desires - dark and sexy - in the bedroom. He can't imagine any gentlewoman, especially the young misses, submitting like he would want. Until he finds a diary full of lusty imaginings.
Now he is on a quest to find the author. Who is it? A woman already introduced? A friend of the family? He sets out to find her believing she may be the woman for him.
The chemistry between Oliver and Lily is explosive. Clandestine meetings, no names in dark corners, so yummy. Grab this book if you love really sexy, but sweet romances.

Lily Layton is a widow twice over who has never known true passion. She’s been taught that what she yearns for is wrong, but that doesn’t keep her from writing down her deepest desires in her diary. It’s a perfectly safe escape…until she loses it.

Oliver Carlyle, Marquess of Ambrose, has decided it’s time to choose a wife. But when he finds a scandalous diary, he can’t get his mind off the mysterious author. How can he pick from the debutantes and titled ladies his mother has picked out for him when there’s a woman in his home who is his perfect carnal match? And why can he not keep his gaze from Lily Layton, his mother’s companion and the one woman at the party he cannot have?

The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton is a scorching hot read. Stacy Reid always delivers engaging stories and Lily and Oliver’s romance is no exception.

As individuals, Lily and Oliver are great characters. Together? They’re dynamite. Lily grabbed my heart from the first. She’s kind, generous, and an incredibly talented designer. She’s also the survivor of an abusive marriage. But no matter how her last husband tried to shame her and tear her down, Lily has an unbreakable core of strength. That doesn’t mean she’s invulnerable – far from it. I loved watching Lily grow over the course of the story and I was cheering for her as she fearlessly risked everything for what she wants most. And Oliver is just about the sexiest gentleman you could hope to read about. He’s incredibly sensual and has a code of honor Lily tempts him to break. They fit one another perfectly outside the bedroom as well. But it’d be remiss of me not to talk about how erotic a pairing they are. In their initial rendezvous, neither knows the other’s identity, but that doesn’t tamp down on the heat they generate. Their story is ferociously sexy and only gets hotter as the book goes on and Lily and Olvier become more adventurous.

Class differences aren’t the only thing standing in the way of Oliver and Lily’s perfect happily ever after. There’s a heavy emotional turn Ms. Reid doesn’t shy away from. And here I’ll include a SPOILER ALERT, so please skip the rest of this paragraph if you want to avoid spoilers. There is an incredibly emotional plotline through the course of this story involving possible infertility that anyone struggling with pregnancy or coping with infertility may find triggering. It’s an element of realism woven into the fantasy and my heart broke for Lily more than once. Ms. Reid handles this sensitive topic honestly and I appreciated that, though whether or not the resolution of this plotline satisfies is going to be a matter of reader preference.

The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton is sexy as can be, emotionally engaging, and just plain fun to read. I devoured the book in one sitting because I adored Lily and Oliver and their chemistry is phenomenal. I highly recommend The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton to anyone looking for a fast-paced historical romance with well-drawn characters, an entertaining plot, and an abundance of steam.

4.5 stars Wow! Just Wow...I was hooked by the dedication of this book and then the story just blew me away!

Oliver Carlyle, the Marquess of Ambrose is hosting a house party at his estate in hopes of finding a bride, his mother has invited several worthy candidates and he knows he should be meeting them, but he has found a diary, filled with secret, wanton desires and he burns to know who the author is. Oliver has been bored, his life while privileged is just not fulfilling. He longs for a wife and family, but he needs a wife who can be all to him, someone who can satisfy his darker sexual desires. He didn't believe he could find such a woman, until he read the diary.

Twice widowed Lily Layton is currently working as a companion to the Marchioness of Ambrose. But she has just learned that the Marchioness has decided it is time for Lily to remarry and has hired a new companion. Lily does not want to remarry, two husbands was quite enough, she longs to open a modiste shop in London, but the Marchioness is not taking no for an answer. Marriage was not kind to Lily, her last husband was a vicar and belittled Lily constantly for her "wanton" ways. Lily began writing down her secret desires in a diary, which has gone missing. Terrified that someone will find it, she frantically searches for it, which leads her to a secret passageway in the house and into the arms of a mysterious stranger.

Oliver comes across Lily in the dark passageway, they keep their identities secret, but willingly share their sexual desires, all Oliver knows is that is mystery lover is the author of the diary. They share an erotic conversation and an incredible night of passion. Lily cannot believe that she allowed a stranger to do those delightfully wicked things to her body, she is torn between shame and arousal. She vows that she will not let it happen again and will hold the memory for the rest of her life.

The Marchioness plays matchmaker and insists that Lily allow Mr. Crawford to court her. Mr. Crawford walks her to her parents in the village and saves her when a reckless rider barrels towards them - the Marquess! Oliver stops to make sure Lily is alright and decides to join them, going as far as to insist that Mr. Crawford apologize to her when he turns nasty after she rejects his proposal. When Mr. Crawford storms off, Oliver offers to accompany her. They talk and enjoy each other's company - when they return from the village and caught in a downpour, they take refuge in a hunting cabin. Oliver is attracted to Lily, but he will never engage in an affair with his employees - his father did and Oliver vowed to never repeat his father's sins - he likes Lily and offers her a fortune to help him pick a bride and even more money if she will pose for him.

Lily agrees, excited that her dream of opening a shop will become a reality - she likes Oliver and has dedicated more than one entry in her diary to her fantasies about him, but she knows that she could never be anything to him. She wonders if he could be her unknown lover, but quickly discards the idea.

Days pass and finally the night of the Marchioness' ball arrives, Lily has designed her gown and feels a bit out of place, but Oliver rescues her and asks her to dance. It is heaven and later she offers to pose for him. He is too tempted by her and sends her away, but instead of going to bed, Lily goes back to the passageway in hopes of encountering her lover. Oliver and Lily meet again and this time, he takes her to a darkened room, where they explore and pleasure each other - Oliver admits who he is and wants to know her - she is not willing to give up her anonymity - she knows his feelings about relationships with employees and doesn't want whatever it is between them to end. But the truth does come out and by then Oliver is too far gone to object - he asks her to be his mistress and she agrees - but only until he takes a wife.


They go to London and she opens her shop, things between them are as hot as ever and she knows that she loves him, but she accepts that she could never be his Marchioness. For his part Oliver has never been happier, Lily is all he has ever hoped for, not only is she a perfect match for his darker desires, but she is his friend and confidant - he has stopped looking for a wife because he cannot bear the thought of losing her. When a near death encounter makes Oliver examine his life, he chooses Lily and asks her to marry him. At first she is opposed, she has a secret that will surely make him turn away, but he sincere declaration of love and her brother in laws words of hope lead her to accept.

They are gloriously happy for months, but soon Lily's secret begins to weigh on her and she begins to pull away, sure that her secret will destroy their love. Oliver is confused by her withdrawal and wonders if he is to blame. Finally he learns the truth and is shocked and saddened - but it changes nothing in his mind, but can he convince Lily that she truly is his heart's one and only desire?

This was an incredible read, the writing was great (there were a couple of typos and incorrect names, but I assume those will be corrected by publication), I will acknowledge that it is not for everyone, if you do not like explicit love scenes or cringe at certain "offense" words, this book is not for you. But if you like your love scenes SCORCHING HOT, then you do not want to miss this book. Oliver and Lily are both wonderful characters, their stations in life do make their HEA improbable, but not impossible. While the book has several love scenes, there is much, much more to this book than just sex, the obstacles that they must overcome to be together are just as well done and moving as the love scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy to recommend it.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

This was a very unique story line and very well done! It should get a heat level rating of 5 out of 5! The principal characters were well fleshed out and very entertaining. Well done!.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton written by Stacey Reid is the third book in Entangled Publishings Sweetest Taboo Series. This one is a historical and the other two are modern so they definitely can be read as stand-alones. I was not quite sure what the taboo in this book was unless it was don’t tup your staff, the difference in stations or perhaps it refers to some of the fantasies in Lily’s diary. Oliver Carlyle Marquess of Ambrose finds a woman’s diary outside during a house party at his country estate and in it’s pages finds himself starring in some very steamy fantasies. The purpose of the house party is for Oliver to meet young women suitable for him to marry as he has decided its time to wed. Fascinated by the diary he searches its pages for clues never once suspecting the the mystery woman is his mother’s companion the twice widowed Lily Layton. Definitely a book to warm you up on a cold winters night.
Super Steamy with some light bondage and Voyeurism. Publishing Date February 18, 2019
#NetGalley #TheScandalousDiaryOfLilyLayton #StaceyReid #EntangledPublishing

This is one powerfully erotic book! Beginning with Oliver finding someone’s (Lily’s) diary and reading about a woman’s wanton desires to their erotic HEA. The depth of eroticism was a bit more than I was expecting, even with the title of The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton. Let me be clear, this is an amazing book of the love between a man and a woman who are equal in what they desire in a lover. That is the beauty of this romance.

Oliver may be a marquess and Lily his mother’s companion, but they fall in love not even knowing whom they are loving. Not to spoil your fun in the reading, I will not give that away. You will truly enjoy their journey to learn of whom they are meeting in secret and of whom they are loving. It is a loving, sensuous read.

Oliver won my hero award in his care and treatment of Lily during a difficult time. This is one you do not want to miss is you want a deeper erotic romance.

Loved the story. It is well written, entertaining and highly sensual. The love between Oliver and Lily is not the norm for the ton but they have found a love that is rare in that day and time. Lily’s station in life is below the Marquess’ but love won out. There is a surprise at the end and it is worth reading to find out what happens. If you like steamy and sensual readings, you will love this book. I would highly recommend it as a great read.