ARC Review: How to School Your Scoundrel by Juliana Gray

Juliana Gray, I love you! WOW!!! This was a stay-up-all-night type of book! My only warning, try to start this book on a weekend! Books like this are why I love reading! The storyline-fantastic. The characters- oh my…, The intrigue and mystery were excellent!

Ok, where to start… First with our fantastic, anti-hero. I want to go back and read the first book in the series, How to Tame Your Duke (A Princess In Hiding, #1) because I read How to Master Your Marquis (A Princess In Hiding, #2) first. This is for my own obsessive purposes, this book is completely a stand-alone read and does not disappoint. Philip, Earl of Somerton is horrible… It is a testament to the author’s talent that she turned Philip around… Somerton is a typical villain! He was such a great character! He is a conundrum. I could read this book over a hundred times just to digest Somerton.

Ok, in the beginning he is married to his beautiful wife. He is obsessed with her and her infidelities, the extremes that he goes to just to prove her unfaithful are astonishing. Because Philip had a difficult childhood and was pretty much ignored by his father, he is not a good role model for his son. He is ruthless and has no gumption about taking what he wants, where he wants it and how he wants it. He is feared and “scoundrel” is just not accurate enough to describe him. The only person that has the nerve to stand up to him is Markham, his personal secretary.

Markham is really Princess Luisa of the Holstein-SchweinwaldHuhnhof royal family. She was to be queen but the murder of her husband and father have left her and her sisters “hiding”. Under instruction from the Duke of Olympia. She is to pretend to be Somerton’s secretary, spy on him and try to regain her throne. Luisa is such a great character. She carries the responsibility of her kingdom and realizes that there are sacrifices that she must make. Luisa tries to reason with Somerton and his obsession but he will not listen to her, even after he discovers who she really is. These two very unlikely characters end up being each other’s only salvation! This is one of my favorite books! I stayed up all night reading it and plan to re-read it. Recommend- yes!! I can’t wait for the next book, “The Duke of Olympia Meets His Match”.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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