Customer Reviews

Once a Scoundrel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Laugh out loud funny, excellent historical detail, wide range of intriguing characters. Clever plot with subtle message. Mature heroine and hero with lots of sparks and sparring as they wager their way past their deep-rooted rivalry. Candice is a wonderful writer who has outdone herself in this second installment of her current trilogy. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel and subsequent offerings.

"Once a Scoundrel" was not a bad read. To the contrary, it was well written and had several interesting (and captivating) characters that the authour successfully made you care about. And yet, on the whole, the novel did not totally satisfy. And that was because the story line was an often used one, with few interesting or surprising plot twists.

Anthony Morehouse is a typical gentleman of the ton: he spends his time drinking and gambling with his friends, and gadding about from one social do to another. So that when he wins the ownership of a ladies' magazine at the gambling tables, he's not too sure what to do about it. A visit to the editor's home gives him the first of many shocks: 1) the magazine he now owns is not some ladies' fashion concern but actually one that writes on political issues, reforms as well as matters about fashion and housekeeping; and 2) the magazine's editor just happens to be Miss Edwina Parrish, his childhood nemesis, who bested him in everything. Suddenly, the opportunity to pay Edwina for all those years of humiliation has been presented to him on a silver platter, and in the mood of mischief, Anthony wagers Edwina that if she can double the subscription level in two months, he will sign the magazine over to her. And in the meantime, Anthony has every intention of spending as much time as possible with Edwina, who has grown up to become a rather delectable young lady...

Edwina has spent the last few years making the magazine over into something that she's rather proud of, only to discover that the ownership of her magazine has changed hands. Edwina's is afraid that the new owner (Anthony) might want to take a more active role at running the magazine, and discover how she has been using the profits from the magazine to run certain charities. Now Anthony has challenged her to a wager for the ownership of the magazine. Should she accept this mad wager? For while she has every intention of wining the wager, working under Anthony's close scrutiny could mean the discovery of all her secrets. And then there is that rather unnerving manner in which Anthony looks at her that's awakening all sorts of feeling that she'd thought she had buried...

I truly enjoyed the manner in which Candice Hern allowed for Edwina's character to blossom from a serious minded editor and reformer to a young woman ready to let a little bit of fun and frivolity into her life. Also well done was the manner in which the authour fleshed out the secondary characters in the novel -- from Prudence, Edwina's mousy assistant editor who happens to have a severe crush on Edwina's brother (I do hope that there's a novel that features Prudence as heroine at some point), to Flora, a woman with a scandalous past whom Anthony and Edwina hire to be the fashion editor, to Anthony raffish friends -- these characters added colour and depth to this otherwise rather ordinary story. Where the novel failed to raise itself above the expected level was in the predictable storyline -- you could almost predict the exact chapter in which Edwina and Anthony would first indulge in a bit of dalliance, to the chapter in they would fall out because of Edwina's political sympathies. I was also disappointed that Anthony's growth as a character was not as detailed as Edwina's was -- we're told about his growth, but not shown. On the other hand, the novel did unfold smoothly and at an even pace.

On the whole though "Once a Scoundrel" was a pleasant enough read, even if the storyline and the hero & heroine were pretty much run of the mill.

Edwina Parrish, the feminist reformer and ex-tomboy, is sorely disappointed in Anthony Morehouse, the dissolute gambler and still-sensitive boy she once knew. Turns out, Eddie did quite a bit of wagering when she and Anthony played together. Anthony, who is, of course, smitten with Edwina, bets her that she can't double her subscriptions in three months. If she can, she'll own the magazine her aunt started as an amusing fashionable and gossip rag. For independent Edwina, this wager is too good to resist.

Anthony's new magazine, The Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet, is the Marie Claire or Vanity Fair of its day, minus the fashion reports. Edwina labors under the illusion that so many of today's feminists still do: you can't be into the latest high-society or haut ton fashion and still write reviews on Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's A Vindication of the Rights of Women. Fortunately, Anthony, who's feeling the need to break out of his role of good-for-nothing privileged son, actively tries to help Edwina---not without a few wagers of course---for example, appointing as her new editor Flora Gallagher, the Heidi Fleiss of the day. The notorious courtesan becomes Edwina's ally and best friend as Edwina and Tony head toward the typical Regency ravishment...except Edwina seduces Tony!

The inevitable boy-loses-girl moment is a ridiculous falling-out between Anthony and Edwina just before the hero proves his love and the heroine realizes her pride (and prejudice) got in the way. Nevertheless, this predictable-but-fun romp into publishing and steamy romance contains a little gem of wisdom on the merits of both beauty and brains.

By TT reviewer Nancy Arant Williams

With a well-deserved reputation as a scoundrel, Anthony Morehouse is at it again, in an alcoholic stupor. But at least he's won his wager. That's something. But what on earth has he won? A cabinet, a wardrobe of some kind? Even after reading the note describing the prize, the description makes no sense to his bleary brain, and he's sure he's been taken for a ride. Tony has the surprise of his life when he signs the papers to take over his cabinet. In fact, it's not a cabinet at all, but a women's magazine, entitled The Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet. Actually, Victor Croyden, its former owner, doesn't look the least bit sad to part with it, and why is that?

It just so happens that a woman, a very forward-thinking woman, is the magazine's editor. And she's no stranger to our hero, either. She drove him nearly to distraction as a small girl. Even back then, she had no intention of following traditional feminine roles. Tony still has nightmares about the years when Edwina Parrish dared and wagered him into more than one tight corner. When the inevitable meeting time comes, Tony barely recognizes the stunning creature before him. What's happened to the freckles and the pigtails, the skinny tomboy he knew so well?

Fortunately, Eddie no longer bears any resemblance to that brat. However, to his chagrin, he finds that Edwina is the same old competitive female he's always known, and she still has something of his. A tiny gilt bronze head of the Roman goddess Minerva--Eddie won it in a wager after Tony said he found it on his father's estate. Even now, it galls him to admit it, but he had actually stolen it and was boasting to her about it when she won it away from him, and he paid dearly--with stripes to the seat of his pants--for the privilege.

Now that the tables are turned, what might he be able to win from her?
Minerva, certainly, but dare he try for her heart? Edwina has little use for men these days. The love of her life was executed in the French Revolution, and she spent years behind bars, emerging singularly independent and afraid to love again. Tony has his work cut out for him, but in wager after wager, which she can't seem to resist, he wears down her resistance, and finds himself changing in the bargain, falling hard for her. When a secret exposes Eddie's betrayal, Tony can't forgive or forget. Who is she really, and will he be able to live with the truth?

In fine fashion, Candice Hern brings to life characters who are, at the same time, wild, witty and charming. Their love is both passionate and tender, changing them both forever. If your passion is historical fiction, grab a copy of Once a Scoundrel. You won't be sorry. Rated R.

Tony, the scoundrel of Once a Scoundrel, has learned to be a charming rogue to live down to his father's expectations. He can't resist a wager, carries his betting book with him everywhere, and wins more often than not. When he wins a ladies' magazine run by the brainy, beautiful self-reliant Edwina, he's finally met the person who can push him to become the man he was meant to be. He, in turn, can help Edwina, who has tightly leashed her passionate energy, to let go and soar again. This is Candice Hern's sexiest and most character-driven book yet. Funny and moving, a page-turning pleasure.

This book was so much fun. I loved Edwina and Anthony -- they made a perfect pair. They were so well-matched, both having very strong personalities. The verbal sparring between them was delightful, especially as it was accompanied by an almost palpable sexual tension. The attraction between these two was sizzling. When they finally made love, this reader was fanning herself. To me, this was a perfect historical romance. The political background and magazine publication setting were very interesting and new to me (so I learned something, always a plus), the romance proceeded at a perfect pace, and the ultimate conflict between Anthony and Edwina was believable. All this put together with beautifully written prose. I've been a fan of Candice Hern since her earliest short Regencies, and this is by far her best book yet. In fact, this the best romance I've read all year. I can't wait for her next one.

This book was an ok read - not great, but not completely dull either. It's not something I would re-read over and over again, it was just too slow-moving for my tastes and had very minimal sexual tension built up between the H/H. That is, we are told so much about everything by the author rather than SHOWN. It became too wordy this way with both Edwina and Anthony going on and on with their internal monologues, wishy washy thoughts and feelings.. it would get too repetitive at times. I'd rather their thoughts and feelings be shown not told to us. In this book it felt like Hern's writing style flowed like an internal, descriptive essay. I didn't feel the deep emotion there. I didn't care much for the sometimes-preachy political rants either.
In saying that, I did like the storyline (of H/H being childhood friends and the wagering between the two) and the outspoken character of Edwina in particular was refreshing. This isn't a terrible book in any case just that if you're looking for a meaningful and passionate love affair, I wouldn't look here. It's a nice, simple, fluffy read good enough to pass time with but not necessarily a keeper.

I stopped at pg 180 or so. It was too predictable and not too interesting - not as good as a Lisa Kleypass or Liz Carlyle book.

Mr. Anthony Morehouse had been celebrating the ultimate win of a magnificent pair of matched gray high stepping horses, probably drinking a bit too much yet still on a winning streak. He had, in his inebriated state, just won what he thought was a piece of furniture, `The Ladies' Fashionable Cabinet' only to find that it was not a piece of furniture but a woman's magazine. Thinking to rid himself of the magazine Anthony set out to visit the `spinsterish' niece of the man he'd won it from only to find the most incredibly beautiful woman sitting behind the editors desk that he had ever seen!

Not only did he discover that this beauty was his childhood nemesis, Edwina Parrish, but she still possessed the one thing she'd won from him over 20 years ago that had caused a giant rift between he and his father - a priceless roman head. Now, with the precious magazine that was for Edwina, a labor of love, they would agree to a wager that could finally, win him back the priceless artifact. Edwina had almost always been the winner of all their former bets, only this time Anthony knew he could win. What Anthony soon came to realize though, was that what he most wanted to win, was Edwina's heart!

This was for me a totally delightful story, filled with intelligent dialog, wit, and charm. The two protagonists seemed to pick up where they'd left off from years before with most things between them amounting to a wager. As many more wagers are made throughout the story Anthony plans his seduction. One of the most sensuous and amusing scenes I have come across in some time was the result of Anthony's taunt to Edwina that she didn't have any idea on how to `please a man'. My, oh my, oh my! I took notes on that one! The reader will find much to enjoy in this book including an amusing and colorful blend of secondary characters adding wit and wisdom to the storyline. This was just a totally satisfying read - one I sincerely hope you get a chance to read for yourself.

This book is so good! The author Candice Hern really knows how to evoke the Regency period and weave a romantic spell. The characters Tony and Edwina are passionate people you root for from the beginning. You also learn a little history - all of it very fun - about the politics and mores of the period. Hot romance, too!