The Counterfeit Scoundrel

ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Lorraine Heath normally is my go to Historical Romance author. She rarely disappoints, always is engaging in her story telling and delivers with heart and angst. Sadly this was not her best in my humble opinion and lacking in all the above attributes of her tried and true HR.

Marguerite Townsend, better known as Daisy, is the heroine of this story. She is striving to make it as a private investigator. She is determined to make it on her own without the help of her aristocratic family. She takes on a case where a husband is trying to prove his wife's infidelity. To go about obtaining proof she get's hired on as a maid in the home of the gentlemen that is believed to be having the affair with the wife.

The gentlemen who Daisy is working for is David Blackwood. Known by most as Bishop, a reputation of scoundrel and rogue. Known for having affairs with women, especially married ones. But not all is as it seems. You see Bishop is not what people think, in fact he's a hero. He's actually putting on an act to save woman from their abusive husbands. All this comes from a tragic event in his own life as he witnessed his own Mothers abuse. He was determined to help women to overcome that same fate as his own Mother.

But unfortunately a murdered husband brings about scrutiny on Bishop as the possible perpetrator so he then joins forces with Daisy to help solve the crime and clear his name.

And so begins the development of their relationship and the revelation of who each really is (fairly quickly to be honest). They are attracted to each other and a relationship evolves. The two eventually clear Bishop and get their HEA.

I am sad to say this was not at all engaging for me personally and seemed to drag for about two thirds of the book. This was more of a mystery and secondary is the romance. The beginning was very slow and the build up of the story was dry and sadly boring. I did not really care for the situations that Daisy "witnessed" of Bishop and as he was acting with the lady he was having an affair with.

The plot was average to fair with some missing pieces that didn't make sense. I did not really care very much for either character. Daisy was trying way too hard to be this independent woman that didn't really make sense for the time period and her actions were not very convincing either. Her character seemed underdeveloped as well. And Bishop was a dry character and didn't really catch my interest much. And their ending and HEA was something I was only mildly interested in.

So am hoping that this is an anomaly for LH. Have started The Notorious Lord Knightly and am enjoying that much more.

3 Stars!! This is a new spin-off series, ‘The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction’ and it was entertaining, if a bit cheesy at times, and can be read as a standalone. ‘The Chessmen’ consist of Rook, Bishop(this books main character), Knight and King, who was the main character from ‘The Duchess Hunt’ which was the 2nd book in the ‘Once Upon a Dukedom’ series. The main characters in this book are Bishop and Marguerite/Daisy. I thought it was sweet bordering on creepy how much Bishop misses his Mom and the things he does because of his love for her. Honestly, I love my Momma more than life itself too, she’s my best friend, but Bishop came off as being a bit obsessed with his Mum. Daisy was sweet and a strong lead female. A few twists and surprises I didn’t see coming that kept me reading this book. Right when I thought the book was wrapping up, something happens and the book picks up again. All in all, an okay read.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*