Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

The Duke and Lady Scandal

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

In the swoon-worthy opener of her Princes of London series, Christy Carlyle takes readers on a breathless chase through Victorian London as a wild bluestocking from a family of treasure hunters and a handsome, serious gentleman from the Scotland Yard butt heads while attempting to thwart a plot to steal the Crown Jewels, inspired by National Treasure.

Alexandra Prince is clever, outspoken, and, yes, perhaps a bit impulsive. Yet she's always been overshadowed by her siblings. While they are off on adventurous expeditions, she's the one left to keep the family's antique shop going while she works on a book about lady pirates—and longs for an adventure of her own. When she overhears a group of suspicious customers whispering about a plan to steal the Crown Jewels, she knows it's her opportunity to shine. But she needs a little help.

Detective Inspector Benedict Drake takes his duties at Scotland Yard seriously. In fact, he takes almost everything seriously. Except for the breathless beauty who crashes into his office to tell him about a ludicrous scheme to steal the Crown Jewels. Despite his turning her away, she keeps popping up wherever he goes, and he's not sure whether she's determined to cause a scandal or is trying to drive him to distraction. Just when he thinks he's rid of her, an event compels him to believe her account, and he begrudgingly enlists her aid to thwart the theft of the century.

But while thieves seek the Crown Jewels, the troublesome bluestocking he can't seem to keep away from might just steal his heart...

  • Creators

  • Series

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Accessibility

    The publisher provides the following statement about the accessibility of the EPUB file supplied to OverDrive. Experiences may vary across reading systems. After borrowing the book, you may download the EPUB files to read in another reading system.

    Summary

    This title is a well-marked up and structured book, and accessible as defined by WCAG 2.0 Level A requirements.

    Ways Of Reading

    • Appearance of the text and page layout can be modified according to the capabilities of the reading system (font family and font size, spaces between paragraphs, sentences, words, and letters, as well as color of background and text).

    • Not all of the content will be readable as read aloud speech or dynamic braille.

    • Has alternative text descriptions for images.

    Conformance

    • The publication contains a conformance statement that it meets the EPUB Accessibility and WCAG 2 Level A standard.

    • The certifier's credential is Verified and Validated by Harpercollins, Inc..

    • This publication claims to meet EPUB Accessibility 1.0 WCAG 2.0 Level A.

    Navigation

    • Table of contents to all chapters of the text via links.

    • Elements such as headings, tables, etc for structured navigation.

    Additional Information

    • Page breaks included

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 17, 2025
      A plot to steal the Crown Jewels animates this rip-roaring Princes of London series launch from Carlyle (the Love on Holiday series). In 1896 London, Allie Prince holds down the fort at her family’s antique shop while her treasure-hunting relatives take off for an archaeological expedition in America. She’s disappointed to be stuck with this boring task and sure she’s missing out on all the adventure, until she overhears a group of thieves discussing their ambitious plans. She reports the conversation to Scotland Yard Det. Insp. Ben Drake, who’s skeptical of her claims but agrees to look into it. His investigation leads him to the dangerous underbelly of the city, where Allie turns up, determined to assist him. As they work together, their mutual attraction becomes impossible to ignore, but Ben fears that his sordid family history will prevent him from ever marrying. Carlyle makes her progressive leads perfectly matched: dogged detective Ben values Allie as his intellectual equal, and plucky bluestocking Allie loosens him up a bit. This is a promising start. Agent: Jill Marsal at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

    • Booklist

      March 1, 2025
      Alexandra Prince promised her brother and sister that she would refrain from any more impulsive actions while they were away hunting antiquities. However, Allie can't not act after overhearing a trio of men plotting to steal the Crown Jewels. When Allie brings this to the attention of Scotland Yard in the person of Detective Inspector Benedict Drake, who already has his hands full trying to track down a criminal mastermind behind a royal blackmail scheme, she finds that he is less than receptive. This leaves Allie with no choice but to find a way to make Benedict take her seriously. For the launch of her new Victorian Princes of London series, Carlyle serves up a cleverly conceived romance that seamlessly blends a danger-infused plot with an engaging cast of characters that includes a charming heroine with a penchant for historical female pirates, a smolderingly sexy, career-driven hero, and a villain who could double for Moriarty.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Kirkus

      March 15, 2025
      Sparks fly at Scotland Yard. Once again, Miss Allie Prince has been left behind. Her adventurous siblings are off on a quest, leaving her to run their antiquities shop, Princes of London. Just as she accepts that she's in for a few boring and lonely weeks, however, life takes an exciting turn when she pops across the street to the coffeehouse and overhears what sounds like a plot to steal the Crown Jewels. She's so convinced that something is wrong that she heads to Scotland Yard, where she's met by DI Benedict Drake, who is "distractingly appealing" and seems to take her somewhat seriously, which is a welcome change. Unbeknownst to her, Drake is in the midst of a chilling cat-and-mouse game with a dangerous criminal, and he dismisses her without agreeing to look into the matter further. Despite his heavy workload, though, he finds he can't stop thinking about either Allie or the potential criminal conspiracy she's reported. It's not long before he heads to the coffeehouse in question to set up some minor surveillance, just in case, and they meet again. Despite Drake's attempts to keep her from getting involved, Allie's instincts keep leading her into the middle of the fray, and as the case gets more intense, so does their connection. Historical romance fans who like a healthy amount of suspense with their stories will enjoy the first volume in Carlyle's new Princes of London series, especially because, despite the title, this is an outside-the-ton story with no need for society drama to liven it up. Both Allie and Drake are well-drawn characters, and though they fall for each other perhaps too quickly, their mutual respect is beautifully portrayed. The conclusion of the mystery isn't terribly satisfying, but the happy ending more than makes up for it. A fast-paced Victorian romance packed with as much criminality as chemistry.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Library Journal

      December 1, 2024

      Best-selling Carlyle begins a new Victorian series inspired by The Mummy and National Treasure. Alexandra Prince is left at home to run the family antique shop while her siblings go on adventures. When she overhears a plot to steal the crown jewels, she seeks the aid of Detective Inspector Benedict Drake. With a 100K-copy first printing. Prepub Alert.

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading