Tempting the Scoundrel

This was a quite unique romance. I was intrigued from the first chapter. I couldn't put this book down. The hero sees the heroine on the veranda of his cousin's house. A cousin who is cruel, but he has no where else to go. The hero was able to find a watchmaker who he could apprentice with and so, he doesn't do what he wants:  he doesn't introduce himself. He just watches her and wishes to meet her until he has to leave with in a few days. 
Ten years later, the hero is a rich, successful watch maker. He is the watchmaker for the royals and is in demand. He has been able to amass a fortune and doesn't need wealth. He is young, 25, and dabbles with the widows.  But he has never forgotten the girl he saw when he was 15 years old. 
He is commissioned to fix a few watches for a duke, and needs a German translator for some letters and schematics he received from a German watchmaker. The duke happens to have a maid who is good with languages that can help. And when he sees her, even with her hair completely covered, he knows it is her. But she has never met him. Can he explain his feelings without sounding like a freak? Can love happen as a teenager and carry into adulthood? This is the book to read, no more spoilers. I enjoyed this book. It kept me immersed from beginning to end. I had to cook supper and we ate very late.  The spelling and grammar were acceptable, very few errors. I heartily recommend this book with 5 stars.

This is my first Tracy Sumner book, but not my last. Amazon has her books on sale often and I've purchased several for free but haven't read them. Oh, what a fool I've been.

I love reading, but the books must be good and this book was great. It had excellently written characters, in depth and beautiful plot, and was able to grab my emotions and tug them in multiple directions.

I will definitely be reading her other books and am thankful to net Galley for being able to read this book (in ARC form) and give my honest review.

Ten years ago Christian Bainbridge fell in love at first site of a girl reading on the veranda.  When Christian had had enough of living in his unkind cousin’s home, he left to apprentice as a watchmaker.  Raine Mowbray left the same cousin’s home a few years later.  They meet again when the now renowned watchmaker comes to Devon House where Raine works.   This is the perfect second chance to win the girl’s heart, or is it?  Raine resists.  She believes her status to be below his, and, well, everybody knows Christian is a scoundrel.  Can he convince her otherwise and win the lady’s heart, and hand?

What a wonderful story!  Christian and Raine are a perfect pair.  It was really fun to watch them move from working together to being friends to a sensual courtship.  Who would think that translating German could lead to love?  Raine’s friend Charlotte offered her advice, and Penny, Christian’s friend and valet, was there to offer his hilarious words of wisdom.  The Duke is pleased and not at all surprised.  At the House of Devon, love happens.  I enjoyed this compelling and heartwarming story.  

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.  My review is voluntary.

Ah, to be young again and feel the keen sting of young love! 

Tempting the Scoundrel is the 3rd book in the House of Devon series, where each book is by a different author. 

One fateful summer Christian Bainbridge's life changes irrevocably. Both his father and brother pass away and he is sent to live with his horrible cousin. The only light in the dark is the fact he won't be there long as he, at 15, has been accepted to be an apprentice with one of the most famous watchmakers around. That is until he spots a young maid reading my lamplight beneath his window. Cue heart-eyes and immediate and unalterable love at first sight. Ten years later as fate has a funny. funny way about her, Christian arrives at the Duke of Devon's to alter and update his timepieces but is in need of a translator to help him decipher some correspondence with a German colleague. And wouldn't you just know, they have newly acquired a maid with education in multiple languages that would be able to help.

Tracy Sumner, in general, has such a way with writing flawed by compelling characters that you can't help but feel with them. And while I would say this book was a little on the lighter and fluffier part of the 'feels' spectrum she usually works within, it is still a solid read. Christian had his moments of petulant childishness... but once he reined it back it and reset his course, well, all was forgiven. Raine was a beautifully strong character who knew the limited environment in which she lived and strove to be content and happy within it. She was wonderfully level headed as compared to many maid-to-princess-type stories we are usually inundated with. Further, she had no desire to be a plaything for some passing rake and stood on her laurels. How I do love strong-minded females!

Being able to watch these two plus some other fun side characters as they danced and bantered into each other's orbit was delightful. I do love some good banter. 

The steam was mild to moderate but that is to be expected from a historical romance where our ladies are generally first-timers and kept in the dark regarding bedroom matters. But, again, it was still fun and, well, steamy.

As always, I know I'm in for a good read with Tracy Sumner, whatever she's writing. I definitely recommend for those that love historicals and strong-minded ladies. I am going to be on the hunt for the rest in the House of Devon series (you know, to get an accurate picture of the whole overall story

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

As a lonely young man, Christian gave his heart to a woman that he had never talked to. But watching her from afar, told him that she was the one for him. In the years since, no one has tempted him like Raine did. When he is finally reunited with her and he gets to know the woman that he admired from afar, he learns that she still has his heart.

Raine has run from a horrible employer and has just settled into her new employment. When she is asked to help the famous watch maker with some translations, she gladly accepts. But she didn't count on the attraction she would feel for him.

Can this upstairs/downstairs romance work?

I really enjoyed Christian and Raine's story. I love the whole aspect of Christian falling for Raine without every having met her and then when he finally does get to spend time with her and learn who she truly is, he wasn't disappointed (which is usually what happens...). This was a great addition to the House of Devon series and I definitely want to pick up the other books in the series!

A quick read - the book was over before I realized it!  It is also part of a series - #3 - I wish I had known that before I started this one.

Christian Bainbridge saw her from above in his teens and wanted to know who she was.   He left shortly after he saw her and moved away.  
Raine is a domestic in the manor and fled to escape the dispicable Earl.
Eight years later, their paths cross - he sparks something in her - he's been carrying a torch for her over these years.  What will happen - will they get what they both want or will she hold back due to her station in life.

this was a good, short book and i enjoyed the portion that i read. i enjoyed the premise. and the cover is great.

Devotion, desire, and determination all played a role in aiding watchmaker Christian Bainbridge to present his case of enduring love for housemaid Raine Mowbray. He had to convince her of his sincerity and that they were meant for one another even though she felt there class station was too far apart.

In order to get her onboard one needs to read the book to discover the connection between the two individuals and find out what plays a role in creating their becoming soulmates! 

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Will she see past her own misconceived ideas ...

What a lovely tale of wooing the person fated for oneself but determined to Thomson the opposite.
There is no villain in this story, the characters’ personality are their sole enemy as their temper rises like a straw fire with the snap of a finger.

In this short narrative, what was awakened some years ago comes to full completion now, if Raine and Kit arrive to match their feelings on the right level at the same time.
Kit has lived with a dream for ten years, now he has the possibility to change it as a reality if he can keep his mood in check. Raine can’t believe a man so wealthy and renowned would want a lowly housemaid. Why she is ready to let pass her chance.
A sweet and steamy courtship of two persons linked by their love for knowledge.
5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the author through Netgalley, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

I sweet story about love at 1st sight. At least it was for Kit, watchmaker extraordinaire. As a youth he spots a lovely maiden, engrossed in her book. Raine never notices Kit and Kit is to shy to approach Raine. Years later Kit makes a house call to repair watches and clocks at the Duke of Devon home. In need of a German translator, the Duke provides his newest maid with a gift for languages. In walks Raine, more beautiful than memories served. Will Kit finally get his 2nd chance? In all the years he never forgot his 1st love.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story

A total delight to read. A sweet love story of a prominent watchmaker  who fell in love at first sight with a house maid when he was fifteen. When he sees her ten years later, he wants nothing but her for his wife. Still a maid, she is hesitant when he pursues her, until he gives her his heart without hesitation. I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I have read this author before and have enjoyed her writing. This book had a bit of an unusual situation but that made it interesting. I liked the characters and the setting. It was a quick read, but sometimes that’s just what I need!

An enjoyable read.  Good writing but a story that would have benefited from being longer.  As it is, the pacing was quick and the relationship didn’t grow as naturally as it could have.

Most Regency romances focus on the ton. It's refreshing to read a romance below stairs - sort of. Christian considers himself as somewhere in the middle - a self-made man who is cousin to an earl. While staying with said earl, he spies a beautiful maid reading by lamplight and falls in love instantly. Too young and shy to even introduce himself, he leaves the next morning to begin an apprenticeship as a watchmaker.

Ten years later, he's the famous guest of a duke and she is the newest maid. Sparks fly - but can Christian convince Raine that the gap between them is not so impossible to bridge?

I really loved these two together - Christian is smart and determined, but terrible with expressing his long-held feelings. Raine is well-educated for a maid but is understandably wary of men of the nobility. There's an interesting theme of class - it's not exactly front of mind for us today, but back then there was a strong feeling about staying in your class and not looking above one's station. 

I'm not a huge fan of insta-love and think this would have been better if it had been expanded, perhaps over a longer timeframe for initial crushes to grow into a deeper love.

If you're looking for a short and steamy Regency read with a different hero and and heroine, give this a try.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

A sweet book that’s written well and makes you swiftly care about it’s characters. Felt like a quick read and made me smile. So glad I came across it.

This is a novella and is very well written by an author that I will be reading again. I really liked this story, very good plot line and characters. Ms. Sumner does a good job of telling the reader all they need to know in a short time. 
The dialogue is a bit off putting at first, not lengthy but a bit choppy, but the reader quickly gets that it suits both of the characters. 
One thing that did bother me however was that the two main characters were really desperate for each other and there really was no build up to their passion, although as mentioned, this was a novella and needed to get there quickly. But would have liked to see more interplay and relationship between them before jumping to marriage even though they met 10 years prior. 
Overall, I'm glad I gave this one a chance. 
My thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for review.