Barbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Sins and Scandal #1
Publication Date: 8/1/17

Delightfully sweet and happy tale that takes place at the end of the Edwardian era (1910),

Leopold Graham, Earl of Hampton had always been a free spirited, happy, loving man – until his father dies in his mistress’ bed. Then, he found that the estate was in debt and the scandal his father created has denied him entry to investments and lines of credit. Now, he is serious and rigid and determined to marry an heiress.

Ivy Leighton is the half-Romani half-English child who lived on the Hampton estate until she was eight. She and Leo were fast friends even though they were eight years apart in age. Ivy has grown up to be a suffragette and feels she’ll have to forgo love and marriage in order to continue in her work for women’s rights because no man of that time would allow his wife to work for or support those causes.

When Leo’s interfering mother cajoles him into having a house party, she invites Ivy and her father to attend. You’ll just have to read the story to see how things go at the house party, but you can assume that Leo is a changed man before all is said and done.

“I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”