This was such a great book about prejudice being something that can happen no matter who you are. That love can teach you a better way. I loved both main characters in that they both were strong and good at the core, but both had room to grow and change. They were equals in many ways and it was so nice to see in a novel set in this time period. #netgalley #HowToSurviveAScandal

What caught my attention about the book to start with is the title - no double entendre, nothing that would embarrass my mother, but interesting. I was expecting a romance (the cover is a dead giveaway) but this had surprising depth. Lady Amelia has been bred for one purpose - marrying a duke. Benedict is a man who has an actual job, even though he has inherited land and is related to a noble. Circumstances conspire to get them married, and you can imagine where it goes from there.

What sets this one apart is Benedict's love for the common people who work in his factory and on his land. He genuinely feels a responsibility as the landowner to care for them. He also sees beyond Lady Amelia's beauty and attitude to her mind and heart. I was caught up in their story, in their insecurities, and in how they balanced out each other.

If you are looking for regency romance that's engaging and even thought-provoking, check this one out.

This is not family friendly due to a couple of mild sex scenes and a bit of profanity.

I so enjoyed this debut novel from Samara Parish.

Benedict rescues Lady Amelia from danger and they find themselves in a compromised situation. This alters their course of action and future dramatically.

Forced together by outside forces, they came from different stations in life and both want different things. Benedict wants nothing to do with the “ton” and the people Lady Amelia call friends and wants a simpler life full of hard work and helping others. Amelia was raised to marry a Duke and doesn’t have any other skills suitable to her new role.

With their clashing views on what’s important and their differences in station and opposing views on way of life, things come to a head often while finding their way through their new roles and trying to fight their building attraction to one another.

This was an enjoyable romance with witty banter and chemistry.

Thank you to @netgalley @readforeverpub for the gifted advanced copy.

I absolutely loved this book. I was immediately drawn into the story from the first line and it kept we fully enthralled till the last. I am amazed that this is Samara Parish's debut, it was so well done. I found her writing to be entirely engaging and very well paced. This novel is very character driven, which I absolutely love when it comes to romance. I was so taken with the story, with the hero and heroine, and with the supporting characters that after I finished I immediately preordered a copy of the finished book for my personal library.

This book is the story of Ben and Amelia who find themselves in a forced marriage in order to save them from scandal. From this forced marriage at the beginning of the novel, we see the growth of two people as individuals and as partners. I found their journey to be one of such beauty, I felt ashamed and embarrassed for them when they misstepped, I felt sadness and heartbreak when they hurt each other and I felt overwhelming joy as I watched them slowly fall in love and become stronger people.

Amelia-our heroine has been raised to be a lady, she has been betrothed to a Duke for most of her life so she is use to giving off the air of perfection. Because of the way she was raised in London society Amelia comes across as very selfish and self-centered at the beginning of her journey. I loved watching her grow and get a better understanding of the world around her as she works to find her footing in a country household. I love that she is able to discover an underlying independence that helps her to make changes around her and stand up for herself and her needs. Amelia is able to realize by the end of the book that she is worthy, that she is not perfect and that she does not have to be, and that she can chose who she loves.

Benedict-our hero, is an untitled gentleman who works for a living. He has a strong distrust of the aristocracy and all it has to ofter due to his mother. Because of this distrust, Ben is constantly questioning his relationship with Amelia and they start off on the wrong foot. As they grow to better understand each other, Ben begins to see Amelia in a new light. I love that around half way through the novel we see Ben soften toward Amelia. He recognizes how strong and smart she is and he makes sure to tell her that. Ultimately, Ben has to realize that he is someone worthy of Amelia's love and trust before he can trust her in return.

This novel so absolutely charming, I loved watching Ben and Amelia go toe to toe at the start of their relationship and then slowly learn to respect each other and embrace a more physical side of their relationship as they slowly built their love and trust. This novel was very sweetly sensual, there is very little, to almost no explicit sex on the page (and although I would not have minded more) I did not feel like it was missing from the novel or their relationship. I loved that by the end of the novel both Ben and Amelia were on equal footing and equal understanding.

I very highly recommend this novel. I think if you love historical romance you absolutely can not go wrong with this one. I am so excited to add Samara Parish to my author watch list, I can not wait to continue reading more books by her as they are published, and I especially can not wait for the second novel in this series (we meet the hero and heroine in this novel and I am so excited for their story)!

Benedict Asterly is a hardworking engineer, son of a footman, and Marquess’s daughter. Lady Amelia is a leader of the ton and was engaged to a duke for a decade with no wedding in sight. When Benedict rescues Lady Amelia from a carriage accident, it sets off a chain reaction that leads to a hasty marriage of convenience. Lady Amelia thinks Benedict is coarse, a commoner, and poor. Benedict thinks Lady Amelia is a spoiled debutante.

This book very quickly reminded me of the movie Overboard - a revenge romance flick where Kurt Russell’s hardworking carpenter finds rich and arrogant Goldie Hawn in a mental institution with no memory of her life. He convinces her she’s his wife and tries to see how far he can take it. So I loved when Benedict didn’t tell Lady Amelia that he was one of the richest men in the ton. He had her doing chores and cooking. The book could have used this trope the whole time and I would have been there for it. But she eventually finds out and upgrades his life by hiring servants and spending his wealth to upgrade his life - to his horror.

I love the struggle that Lady Amelia went through reconciling her life with what she thought it should be. You don’t really get to see what happens after the happily ever after, and this book delivered it. I also loved how Benedict was forced to accept that his origins weren’t as humble as he wanted them to be. Both characters were forced to learn and grow for each other.

The steam starts pretty early and added to the push and pull of their romance. Lady Amelia throws a house party that spectacularly implodes and is forced to go back to London. Like Overboard, Benedict eventually comes to rescue her from the life she mourned the entire marriage. Happy endings, personal growth, and a wonderful character study on class.

I loved it! I am excited to see what Ms. Parrish comes up with next. I love that this is her first book and it doesn’t show. Her storytelling is executed with all the flourish of a seasoned writer.

This was such a cute, fun read! I really enjoyed it and want to congrratulate this author on her debut.

The book follows Lady Amelia, a prim and proper, upper class member of society. She is destined to marry a duke, but one mistake ruins her chances and forces her into marrying our male lead, Benedict Asterly. I loved Amelia's character - she took everything in stride, and stayed true to herself no matter what. Watching her grow and learn about things that she always considered beneath her station was heartwarming and exciting! I loved that this book was sort of the opposite of what I'm used to in these romance books - the ones I pick up always seem to be a rich, upper society man rescuing the poor damsel with no prospects. While I love, and will continue to love that trope, I must say this was a breath of fresh air! I loved seeing Amelia brought down a few notches only to clamber back up them again with ferocity and determination.

Benedict was a hard-working man with great aspirations and a love for the people in his town. I loved reading from the perspective of a working class man in an era of industrialization. Benedict was also very protective of his little sister, and it was sweet to see that side of him.

While Amelia and Benedict's relatonship was a bit dramatic at time, it nevertheless kept me entertained and rooting for them. The chemistry was definitely there, but I hoped for more romance in this romance novel lol! I still thoroughly enjoyed the book however, as it had a great plot and lots of entertaining twists and turns. If the next book in the series is featuring the two characters I think it might be, then I am super excited to see what happens - I am hoping for more heat and chemistry, but looking forward to it regardless!

Overall, this is a great read that I recommend to anyone looking for a bit of a different twist on regency romance. I think you'll quite enjoy it!

When Benedict Asterly rescues a woman from freezing to death in a storm, he has no idea that he's about to change both of their lives. Having been found alone with Benedict, Lady Amelia Crofton's lofty future has been upended. The two are forced to marry and struggle to find common ground. But when Benedict's business interests are threatened, Amelia hope she can use her skills to show she can be an asset as a business owner's wife.

This is author Samara Parish's debut novel and it's a really solid showing. Amelia has been betrothed to a duke since five years old and has been told all her life that her only value is in the title that she marries. She seems haughty and insufferable at first but, as the layers are peeled back, she's vulnerable and craving a place to make her own. Benedict hates the aristocracy. He grew up a commoner with ties to a title, never feeling good enough. Even with a lucrative business and a prominent place in his community, his marriage to Amelia brings back memories that he wished could have stayed in the past.

These characters have good chemistry, but my only complaint is that their relationship takes a backseat to the the events-driven plot. The storytelling is very good, but the heat level is low and I wanted more romantic connection. There are "breadcrumbs" for book two, and I'm hopeful that those characters will have a stronger emotional bond.

Tropes: Compromised, Forced to Marry, Class Differences

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #HowtoSurviveaScandal #NetGalley

I enjoyed Ms. Parrish , “How to Survive a Scandal”. I usually enjoy my romance stories with a bit more heat to them, but this story kept me interested and I happily kept turning the page.

In this story we find our hero Benedict Asterly rescuing Lady Amelia. She has found herself stranded in the cold, freezing in a cold carriage. He immediately tries to warm her up. Half undressing her to bring some warmth to her body. In doing this they are discovered by Amelia’s father, her fiancé and a member of the ton. She is ruined and now to save her he needs to marry her.

Amelia is convinced there is another way out of this. That she can still marry the Duke that she has been waiting for years. She was raised to marry the Duke, nothing else will do. But she is dropped like a hot potato and is resigned to the reality that she needs to marry Benedict.

Benedict also was not warming up to this marriage. She represents everything that he hates. The society that did not welcome him and turned their back on his mother. He walked away from that world and he has made his own fortune as a engineer. Designing the locomotives that would bring much wealth and advancement to this era. But as much as he hates the ton he also realizes that he needs part of that world to be able to continue for his inventions to thrive and to do business with the Americans. The Americans are the new money, and they are eager to infiltrate London’s high society.

This is where Amelia’s background and training comes into place. She takes his household and quickly turns it around. She also helps him out with his business, making it more streamlined and organized. Yet as much as she masterfully brings so much change, she misses her old world. Actively working hard to change his mind and open up to the world that she was raised to be a part of. What she needs.

At times I felt sorry for Amelia. For years she waited and chased a man. Not accepting the clues that he was not going to marry her, somehow putting off their nuptials. She also was still so invested in her past that she was having a hard time looking forward to what she had going for her with Benedict. Benedict also was a little exasperating. He was so stuck in hating high society that he would not see just how much those connections could help his business and those that he employs.

Their chemistry was good, but not off the charts. I wished Ms. Parish would have teased us more, given us more of a view of their bedroom. The first lovemaking scene was good, but it left you guessing and wishing for more.

All in all, it was a good read and I look forward to reading more books from Ms. Parrish.

I absolutely loved this story and was sad when it said "the end." Benedict and Amelia are such amazing people, but from two different worlds. Fate brings them together, but they have to see if anything can keep them together. Amelia was especially tossed into a different environment and how she dealt with the change in her life was so interesting. I won't write a spoiler, but I highly recommend this story.

All the characters were well developed. You will get to truly understand what they are feeling and why. The secondary characters are so interesting too and I hope we get to see how John does when he gets to Boston, as well as what's the scoop with Fiona and the Duke!

Benedict is a hard working man bringing jobs and opportunities to his village. He's poised to win a lucrative American contract for his steam engine design when the deal is thrown in jeopardy when he's forced to marry Lady Amelia. Amelia has been betrothed to the duke since childhood, but when she's stranded in a snowstorm and nearly freezes to death, it's Benedict who rescues her. When they're found together, the duke refuses to marry her. Now wed to a commoner, Amelia is furious that everything she worked for her whole life could change in an instant. Can Amelia learn to love her honorable and hard-working husband or is she destined to live the rest of her life in misery?

This was the first book I've read by Ms. Parish and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked how Amelia learned to value other things in life besides setting the perfect table or presiding over inane teas. She was a resourceful and determined young woman, but I really loved Benedict. He was so honorable and tried to do the right thing for everyone, but he was thwarted at every turn. It takes a near tragedy for both Amelia and Benedict to realize the true value of love and companionship and get their HEA. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

A story with fully developed characters and just the right amount of angst made for a great historical romance debut.

There was a bit of leariness before giving this book a try, all to do with the description of Amelia, a perfect dutchess-in-training, and proud of it. Luckily from the beginning, there was a sense that there more than meets the eye with her. While at times she came off as pretentious, her inner thoughts showed her insecurities and vulnerableness.

Benedict Asterly was a working man with an upstanding character even though he came off as brutish and uncouth (to Amelia, that is). As he did rescue her, the lessons he taught her on life outside of London were pretty hilarious. He also had his own set of insecurities which explained a lot of his initial misgivings of Amelia. The loneliness they both faced in life prior to meeting is what made them a perfect match once they began to see each other for who they really were and wanted to be.

The negatives weren't major but were gaps in the story that could have used some filling-in. First, the reasoning behind Amelia getting into the situation that she needed to be rescued from seemed important but was never flushed out. Then the intimate scenes started with promise but then left you guessing at what happened between the couple. I don't mind a tepid romance but when I have to re-read to figure out if they actually consummated their marriage or did they just fall asleep in each other's arms, a bit more description may be in order.

Overall, a great debut and I would read another from this author in a heartbeat.

So good, so good, so good! Loved every page! fabulous,
I never write a spoiler, but really, this is a great book of the series.

Lady Amelia was betrothed to a duke's heir from childhood, raised to be the perfect duchess, and had her entire life come crashing down when a country engineer saves her life. Forced into a marriage by circumstances outside of their control, Lady Amelia and Benedict Asterly are the worst sort of pairing - how can a man distrustful of the entire aristocracy ever care for a society darling? But Amelia and Benedict soon learn to be allies and through their working together, a relationship of respect and maybe even love blossoms.

Historical romance with a marriage of convenience? Sign me all the way up.

This book is such a fun interpretation of the historical romance genre, with more focus on the plight of the working man since Benedict is not a member of the aristocracy. We see a storyline about industrialization, the responsibilities the gentry has for their tenants, and the double standard of morality across English society. I really enjoyed this unique perspective!

Amelia and Benedict were a little insufferable and their lack of communication and conflict towards the end seemed blown out of proportion compared to all the other drama in the book. But overall I was into their relationship. Also worth noting, this book was very low on steam, so don't let the sexy cover fool ya!

Thank you to Netgally, the author, and Forever for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Great first novel by a new author! Benjamin thinks he is doing a good deed by rescuing a woman. Instead, he is forced into marriage to a woman, Amelia, whom had never even noticed his lowly self before. Amelia, betrothed to a Duke since childhood, is furious about being forced to marry below her station. At first they try to make the best of it, with Amelia saving his business interests with her social skills, wit, and connections. They later grow to appreciate each other. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Forever for my honest review.

An enemies-to-lovers historical romance, How to Survive a Scandal follows Lady Amelia and Benedict, a couple from two different worlds who are thrust together after a near-death experience. When Benedict rescues an unconscious woman from the freezing elements, he had no idea that the woman was Lady Amelia.

Though they don’t want to, the pair is pushed into a marriage so that Lady Amelia’s pristine reputation isn’t tarnished. Benedict distrusts the societal elite, and Amelia knows nothing of the working class, as she was trained to be a duchess. What happens when two people from very different worlds collide?

It’s interesting to see how Amelia and Benedict get over their impressions of each other and what they represent. Amelia and Benedict are vastly different in their social standing and their views of the world. Benedict scorns the elite and has great disdain for the way men and women of the ton use their time. Amelia looks down upon the working class and holds the people and etiquette of the upper crust in high regard. I like that they both learn to be less judgmental and have opportunities to see the positives of each other’s worlds. Of course, they both see the negatives too, and they have to figure out how to be part of both worlds, which proves challenging.

The romance between Amelia and Benedict runs hot and cold, which isn’t surprising considering they were all but forced to marry. Amelia and Benedict are harsh toward each other at times, and they sometimes say hurtful things to each other, which seems intentionally mean. It takes them time to understand, like, and respect each other, and they are often unnecessarily harsh. Though I didn’t love that aspect of their relationship, they are passionate about their feelings, and the sexual tension and chemistry are wonderful. When they both let their guard down, their romance is lovely, which, I think, is the point. Without walls, without societal constraints, without the judgment of others, Amelia and Benedict care for each other. They challenge each other in so many ways, and they change each other for the good. It’s definitely a unique, well-developed, opposites-attract relationship.

Other characters in the story are also really interesting, like Benedict’s younger sister and his co-workers. The story hints at another intriguing romance between an unlikely pair, and I’m curious to see what happens with this couple in future books in the series. It is clear they have a past, and I think they might have a future as well!

I think Amelia is very underestimated throughout the story, and there are definite messages here about gender roles and equality. There are also strong messages about prejudice, inequities among social classes, and the harmful nature of hubris. As Ben tries to insure a contract with an overseas company, the story examines the tense relationships between England and America during this time. I like that the story highlights relevant and prominent issues of the time.

This is an intriguing debut novel from Samara Parish, and I think lovers of historical romance will enjoy How to Survive a Scandal. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Forever, and Samara Parish for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Amelia has been groomed to the perfect duchess since she was 6 years old. She didn't play, read, or really have any sort of childhood due to her hand already being promised to the Duke of Wildeforde. The Duke was willing to do his duty to marry Lady Amelia just when he was ready for her, the years went by and there was always a reason on why they couldn't marry. In a brash move, she leaves London without a ladies maid, and get stuck in the snow. Mr. Benedict Asterly finds her and brings her inside. There they are "caught" and she is ruined. The Duke refuses to marry her, and thus Benedict steps in. He thinks she is to haughty and likens her to an ice princess. But slowly her ice façade melts and they realize that this may be the best thing that ever happened to them if they will allow it.

I loved the playful banter between them, and even when they didn't understand one another you could feel their sexual tension. I loved seeing everything new through Lady Amelia's eyes and her understanding that she was worth more than just a pretty face and what she could bring her father. The entire town is highlighted in this book, and it was refreshing to read an historical romance that was more about the working man then the aristocracy. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next.

*note none of what I wrote is a spoiler it was covered in the first two chapters to set up the book.