A Scoundrel of Her Own by Stacy Reid

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Title: A Scoundrel of Her Own
Author: Stacy Reid
Series: Sinful Wallflowers #3
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Release Date: December 28, 2021
Format: ebook
Pages: 348
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Overdrive
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2023 COYER Chapter 1, Lenoreo's 2023 Diversity Reading Challenge
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My rating:

Blurb:

Lady Ophelia Darby exists in two worlds. In one, she is the impudent, willful daughter of a powerful marquess and darling of the ton. In the other, she moves through the underworld’s shadows as songstress Lady Starlight, protected only by the notoriously wealthy scoundrel Devlin Byrne. But when she stumbles upon her beloved father’s darkest secrets, the line between her two worlds quickly blurs. Now she needs the help of the one man a lady should never trust.

Devlin Byrne stands on the edge of London society, knowing he will never be accepted. No one else knows that his obscene wealth and ruthlessness aren’t without purpose. Or that his purpose has golden-brown eyes that shimmer with mischief, the palest of skin, and a lush mouth that beckons to be kissed, and deeply. But having Ophelia is only the beginning of Devlin’s plans.

It’s undeniable that Devlin Byrne is a dangerous temptation—but just as Ophelia begins to trust him, maybe even fall for him, she discovers she’s not the only one with secrets. And his would lead her down more than just the path of scandal…

My Review:

4.5 stars — Well, I am entirely addicted to these books.

This one had some parallels to another historical I read that I ended up being disappointed in…and this book basically did all the things I was hoping for with the other one.

We have a wonderful prologue that I was not expecting, and it delivered the most beautiful beginning glimpse of our MCs.  I loved the instant connection they formed in such trying circumstances, and I ached from their innocence.

Devlin was definitely a complicated hero.  Like Nicolas from the previous book, he wasn’t a bad man, but he could be ruthless and he was looked upon unfavourably by the ton.  I ached for all that he had gone through working his way up in the world, to still have the doors to his dreams closed to him.  I loved how generous he was, with both time and money, trying to improve the stations of those who began like him.  He was a beautiful mix of kind, gentle and caring, with brusqueness and…I guess ruthlessness.  I am not one to love the bad boy, so I was glad that for me it was his goodness that always came to the front.

Ophelia surprised me in some ways.  I was disappointed in the differences of how they each were impacted by the moments in the prologue…I wanted her to be the same as Devlin.  But I guess in so many ways, this was more believable.  She was so delightfully forthright, kind, sassy, and just a woman ahead of her times.  I appreciated how hard she tried to balance the expectations of the family she loved with what she truly wanted…but I still cheered at the end.  I didn’t expect her father’s secret, and that added another heartbreaking aspect to the story.  It made for some very complicated relationships for her.

Obviously I loved them together.  Sometimes I would worry that Devlin was too forward and crass, but then Fifi would surprise me with her spunk.  I worried how it would all turn out for them, but their their journey felt believable.

This book, even more than the other two, really delved into the prejudice of the ton, and I hated it.  I hate it even more knowing that we have not completely gotten rid of that prejudice today, and there are still barriers to the poor.

I will say that I absolutely mourn that there are no books for the remaining three wallflowers.  I NEED THEM!!!