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A delightful twist on the Cinderella fairytale (with a nod to My Fair Lady), The Scoundrel & I is the story of down on her luck Gabrielle Flood and the dashing (and handsome) Captain Anthony Masinter. The novella works as a standalone, but features characters from both the Falcon Club and Prince Catchers series.
Gabrielle Flood (Elle) barely makes ends meet as a printer’s assistant for Brittle & Sons, Printers. Her only happy moments in life come via evenings at home with her beloved grandmother, and when she works on printed pamphlets for the famous journalist known as Lady Justice. When her employers go on a vacation – and leave Elle to work alone over a fortnight, she risks her livelihood to secretly bring home the printer type for Lady Justice’s most recent pamphlet to share with her grandmother. The first night she bundles up the type, departs Brittle & Sons and is nearly run over by a horse and rider. In a frightened panic, Elle drops her bundle and watches the type scatter across the road and down a nearby drain. When the handsome rider asks her, arrogantly, if she’s unhurt, she can barely nod her head and confirm she’s unharmed.
Captain Anthony Masinter (Tony) is in a hurry and nearly runs down a woman walking in the street. He’s on his way to the funeral of his (former) first lieutenant, John Park. Tony blames himself for Park’s death, and holds himself responsible for the now destitute wife and three children he left behind. He’s returned to London a celebrated and wealthy war hero; while at sea, he also inherited an estate from a great-aunt. Tony planned to remain a bachelor – but with the death of Park, he feels obligated to offer for the widow and become a father to her children. All of these things are on his mind when he nearly collides with Elle. Confused and upset by his thoughts, Tony rudely rushes off after he confirms his near victim is unhurt.
Parting from this first, less than auspicious beginning, Elle (Cinderella) and Tony (the prince – oh reader! he is!) would seemingly have no reason to ever see one another again. But fortunately, fate has other plans. The next day Elle is surprised when Tony, again on horseback, passes by as she’s frantically searching the road for pieces of the missing type. Desperate and angry, she calls him a scoundrel; Tony, caught off guard by her fury and beauty, follows her to Brittle & Sons after she storms away. She’s shocked when he enters the shop, but he soothes her and tells her he will help her replace the type. Handsome, charming and relentless, Tony is impossible for Elle to resist. His plan to replace the type fortuitously allows them multiple occasions to spend time together – and ultimately, to fall in love.
The road to ‘and they lived happily ever after’ in this fairytale is riddled with potholes and romantic tropes – class differences, a big Misunderstanding, and a secret… but these only draw out this wonderful love story. Tony, handsome, sweet and charming, is the perfect foil to lovely, serious and wary Elle.
I sighed (more than once) reading this romantic novella. The Scoundrel & I is Ms. Ashe writing at the top of her game.
Grade: A
Book Type: Historical Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 15/08/16
Publication Date: 08/2016
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I love romance novels - all kinds.
I love music - some kinds.
I have strong opinions about both and I like to share them.
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I’d give it a B. It wasn’t rushed as novellas often are, although his solution to the problem of his friend’s widow was a little too convenient.
But I agree about the continual grammar corrections – and to do it to someone you don’t (!) know is just downright rude.
It also has a formality that isn’t my cup of tea. I don’t remember that in the other book of hers that I’ve read.
I didn’t really notice anything that seemed over formal OTHER than the heroine’s grammar fetish. I also have a grammar fetish but usually confine it more to the written than the spoken word ;).
I thought it was one of those things he found amusing about Elle. She wasn’t my favorite heroine ever but it’s not my f/f love story, so if he likes it…
You know, I was disappointed in this book. It began well, but the heroine’s constant correction of the hero’s grammar was annoying and his acceptance of it made him seem weak. She continued to do so, even after he has confessed why he spoke so, even though his use of “ain’t,” “he don’t”–common during that time among aristocrats, if we believe historicals–and his use of some other word choices were fine to my modern ear. Given the huge class difference, I thought her superiority was unbelievable and created barriers to their romances, as well as her endless suspicion of him as a man; I felt it went on waaay too long. My grade: C-, although clearly, other people loved this book.
I too thought it went on f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
99 cents at Amazon kindle right now.
Which characters from the Prince Catchers series?
Bedwyr is Tony’s best friend.
This one sounds great!
Blackjack1 – I’ve read all of Ms. Ashe’s novellas (well, I’ve read pretty much everything she’s written!) – but this one is special. Charming, delightful, romantic… I really enjoyed every moment of it.