[.ca] Scoundrel (ISBN 0553569112)

good, but not great:
I did really enjoy this book, it was a fun read all in all. I would have enjoyed having more from the hero at the end, but, we don't always get what we want. I do reccomend this book.

a good book:
This is the third book I've read from this author and I must say I've enjoyed all her books. The other two were the "Warlord" and "Bethrohed" Both were ancestors of the hero in this book. Miles Montague, Duke of Remington. The book is the story of the beautiful Lady Lily and the Duke, Miles. They are involved in very dangerous work for the War Department and this puts their lives in danger and throws them together. Remington saves Lily and agrees that to keep her safe he will pose as her escort. Lily has secretly loved him from afar for years but thought he had never noticed her. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Remington had noticed her and when the chance came to protect her and court her he leaps at it. He swears that he is not in love with her, that love is a silly stupid emotion but he soon finds that he is wrong on both counts. Together they must find a traitor and find love. I really enjoyed this book and hope that the author writes more with this family line. I would love to read a book about Miles's brother Trevor.

Very entertaining:
the book caught my interest right at the begining and rarly let it slip, I love that in books, but I really want to know why there isn't more out there from this wonderful author. PLEASE, give this book a chance, I doubt you will be dissapointed.

Simply a wonderful historical romance that has it all:
I had a plain good old time reading Scoundrel. I hardly put it down until I was finished. I make it a rule to savor the really good romances and not consume them in a few readings. But this book was so delicious that I just kept reading and reading and then was sorry when it did end. Oh well - such is the nature of a delightful book. Miles Montague, the Duke of Remmington, is the scoundrel and is all that we desire in a historical romance hero. However, I have read many romances in which the hero was much more of a scoundrel than the Duke of Remmington. I would consider him a mild scoundrel overall with the usual hardheaded nature and determination not to love. Young good looking dukes seem to be the most desired noble fellows in these books - so of course, all the ladies want him to look their way. Lady Lily Walters is one of those women. She has been in love with the duke from afar for years. She has never actually met him but thinks he is a dream. Apparently this duke is rather conceited and aware of his appeal. One night he actually requests an introduction to Lady Lily and then asks her for a dance. She is obviously dumbfounded at his request and can hardly speak. As she accepts his offer and proceeds onto the dance floor, she realizes she is acting as clearly smitten as she truly is! But, as they twirl around the floor, her infatuation turns to horror as she realizes Miles has an ulterior motive for asking her to dance. His smug smile during their dance tells her that he has just used her in some fashion. He is so proud and self-assured that she imagines he has won a bet at her expense. She calls him on it and decides as they exit the dance floor that she is not so smitten with him after all. Miles is somewhat surprised at her directness and sarcasm. As the reader, I am just thinking "Good for you Lily!" Later that night, as Miles is departing from his club, he sees Lily running down the street, in her nightgown, clearly scared to death. Someone has just attempted to kill her and she is looking for her father. Since both Lily and her father are undercover operatives for England, she fears for his life as well. Miles immediately comes to Lily's aid, seeing her safely home and locating her father. No longer is he the conceited rogue that danced with her earlier. He seems truly concerned and leaves some of his men at her home to stand guard. Later that night, Lily leaves her home after conferring with her father about their plight. He believes she needs to go to a government safe house for a time until they can be assured of her safety. When the duke's men discover that Lily is leaving town, in the middle of the night - on a mail coach no less, they insist on taking her to the coach. They fabricate a reason to stop by the duke's home on the way. When Miles discovers that Lily is to travel, unaccompanied, on a public coach, he is outraged at the stupidity of the entire situation. After conferring with her father, it is agreed that she will stay at his home, in hiding, until the murder suspect can be found. Now Lily finds herself staying with the dominating arrogant duke that she no longer holds in high esteem. Yes, he is concerned for her life but she doesn't want to trouble him with her presence. On the first day of her enforced stay, Miles is beginning to regret his offer of protection. He does find her attractive but she is just an innocent - one type of woman he has nothing to do with. She also looks at him with the most beguiling eyes and he has a hard time resisting her. So what does he do? He sets down some hard rules for her, avoids her, stays away from home as much as possible, and is plain rude to her. Despite his rude treatment, Lily appallingly finds herself somewhat still smitten with him and attempts to leave again and again to no avail. The laughs really begin when Lily decides that since he won't let her leave, she will let him kick her out. Scoundrel is a delectable romance story that never has a dull moment. The chemistry between Miles and Lily is ever present and truly savory. It's often a battle of wit as well as will between the two. Miles, also an undercover operative for the government, is determined to protect Lily. He discovers that under the ditzy, helpless persona Lily deliberately portrays is a brilliant, intelligent woman who is close to a genius. Everything he learns about her only makes his attraction grow all the stronger. In the midst of all this, there is a fairly good suspense story at work. Eventually Miles and Lily can avoid their mutual attraction no longer and become involved in more ways than one. The sensual scenes are few but well written. They rate about a 3.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Now that I have read Scoundrel, I have read all three of Elizabeth Elliott's books. Scoundrel was published in 1996. All three of her books are very popular and I believe still in publication. My question is - where is she? I am afraid of the answer but - if you are there Ms. Elliott - please give us some more of your luscious stories!

Great Historical Romance:
Lady Lily Walters appears as an empty headed flirt, flitting about the ton when in actuality she is a master cryptologist working for the war department. In her private musings she would love to be recognized as intelligent but knew that until the war was over it was necessary to continue playing the part. Secrets must be kept and one, which was close to her heart, was the secret love she felt for Miles Montague, the duke of Remmington, whom she knew didn't know she was alive. Out of the blue he requested an introduction and asked for a dance but it did not take Lily long to realize that his request was to use her for an ulterior motive - namely making another Lady jealous. Lily felt humiliated and let him know that she recognized what he was doing. Later the same evening as Lily was preparing for bed, she was attacked in her home but escaped and ran through the streets in her nightclothes whereupon who other, but the Duke of Remmington, would come to her aid to rescue her. Though he tries to get Lily out of town for her safety, her father, Lord Crofford agrees that she would stay at the Duke's home until the assailant was brought to justice. Unbeknownst to Lily, Remmington, has always admired her but knew her for an innocent and vowed to never form any long term attachments, having been betrayed by his former wife. The attraction builds as the days progress and Remmington begins to suspect that there is more to Lily than the public persona she portrays as empty headed. At a houseparty, a private meeting goes awry where Lily's reputation is so compromised that Remmington must marry her. For Lily, who loves him, it is an answer to her prayers, but he is adamant that love is something he cannot offer - friendship, loyalty and respect but never love. Naturally he tries to fight his attraction for his wife but as more attempts are made on her life, he will soon come to realize that she is more than just his friend and bedmate -- she is the center of his world. This was a very rich and sensual love story, steeped in intrigue and mystery. The characters are complex, interesting and intelligent and the seduction is divinely sensual - extremely well written this is a most enjoyable read I can highly recommend.