Last Night's Scandal by Loretta Chase

Book Description:
After surviving the perils of Egypt, Peregrine Dalmay, Earl of Lisle, is back in London, facing the most dire threat of all: his irrational family . . . and Miss Olivia Wingate-Carsington. A descendant of notorious—but very aristocratic—swindlers, the delectable redhead has the ability to completely unhinge him and a long history of dragging him into her scandalous schemes.

Olivia may be Society's darling, but she's aware a respectable future looms menacingly. And so when Lisle is forced to go on a family mission, she sees this as the perfect chance for one last adventure—even if it is with the one man in the world she can't wrap around her finger. But really, she only wants to help . . .

Which is why Lisle and Olivia find themselves in a gloomy Scottish castle inhabited by spiteful ghosts and craven murderers . . . and a shocking secret: the greatest peril of all may be burning within their own stubborn hearts.

Quickie Review: (because I'm totally backed up!)
Aww, finally we get Lisle and Olivia's delightful and crazy tale, the sequel to Lord Perfect involving their journey to Lisle's father's Scottish castle.  I highly recommend this book.  Last of Chase's Carrington Series, it can be read as a standalone, but it will be much more worthwhile if you read Lord Perfect first.   In Lord Perfect, Olivia and Lisle are young teens off on a hilarious adventure. In Last Night's Scandal, the story picks up several years later when they are adults. 

Olivia is now a raving beauty and though she and Lisle have kept up their correspondence while Lisle has gone off to live in Egypt to study archeology with his Carrington relatives (from Mr. Impossible) they have not seen each other in several years.  Olivia's letters contain the usual underlines and CAPITALIZATION'S, her sense of drama has not diminished.  Lisle has grown up quite a bit too, and he's turned out very well.  Tall and blond with a rugged look about him from being in the desert for years, he's self assured and a man now.  A very handsome and debonair man who knows how to take care of himself.  Since, they have not seen each other for many years, both are quite surprised at their first meeting to discover they are hugely attracted to one another.  But... but... they were childhood friends, how can they shift gears and become more?  This is their conundrum.  As far as Lisle is concerned, his stay in England is temporary - until his parents insist he renovate their crumbling Scottish castle or else they won't give him another penny.  Forced to go to Scotland, Olivia, with her uncanny knack for getting her way, goes with him to "help" restore the castle.  Equipped with "the Harpies" two ribald and randy elderly women who act as chaperons, (they're anything but) they set off for the journey to Scotland and ultimately as Lisle refers to it - Castle Horrid.

As the story develops, he and Olivia can barely keep their hands off each other.  But he is torn, he wants her yet he doesn't want her, but a few times, passion runs away and they nearly do the dirty deed, but Lisle is a gentleman and he cannot marry her.  He wants to return to Egypt and he knows Olivia will be bored stiff and unhappy if she goes with him.   Yet they're still good friends - she just as notorious as ever, and he still just as methodical and circumspect as ever - except when it comes to the fair Olivia.  These two made for a delightful read and it was great reading about how they achieve their HEA - together.   I loved this book although not the best in the series, it had it's moments and the Harpies were simply hysterical!

4/5

P.S.: I must admit, I loved the inside flap, Lisle is quite swoonworthy (for a blond hero) and Olivia is gorgeous!  Wow, no wonder they couldn't keep their hands off each other!

Share