A Scandalous Countess: A Novel of the Malloren World
Read A Scandalous Countess: A Novel of the Malloren World Online
Authors: Jo Beverley
Tags: #Romance, #General, #Contemporary, #Historical, #Fiction
Praise for the Novels
of Jo Beverley
An Unlikely Countess
“A fantastically entertaining historical romance.”
—Night Owl Romance
“Great read!”
—Fresh Fiction
“A delightful, deftly plotted exploration of social class, gender roles, and romance…charming.”
—
Publishers Weekly
The Secret Duke
“Known for her marvelous storytelling, Beverley sets the finale of her rakish trilogy in Georgian England. Amongst danger, secrets, and retribution, she ably places her protagonists into the era. With a sharp eye for detail, dialogue, and touches of humor, she incorporates a few characters from previous novels into the mix and keeps the reader well entertained in this captivating gem.”
—
Romantic Times
The Secret Wedding
“Beverley proves again that she can be counted on to come up with clever and creative ways of mixing passion and intrigue to create a beguiling love story.”
—
Booklist
“A fabulous, intelligent tale starring two lead characters masquerading as others in order to conceal their true identity while falling in love with their spouse. [In this] comedy of manners, misconceptions, and mistakes, Jo Beverley provides an amusing historical with a touch of suspense and a hint of scandal as you like it.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
A Lady’s Secret
“Extraordinary storyteller Beverley mixes witty repartee, danger, and simmering sensuality with her strong and engaging characters, including a fetching Papillon, in this delightful, delicious gem of a book.”
—
Romantic Times
(top pick)
“With wit and humor, Jo Beverley provides a wonderful eighteenth-century romance starring two amiable lead characters whose first encounter is one of the best in recent memory. The tale is filled with nonstop action.”
—The Best Reviews
Lady Beware
“Jo
Beverley carries off a remarkable achievement in
Lady Beware
, the latest and possibly last in her Company of Rogues novels…. It is the unusual combination of familial comfort and risqué pleasure that makes this book a winner…. No doubt about it,
Lady Beware
is yet another jewel in Beverley’s heavily decorated crown.”
—
The Romance Reader
“[E]nchanting…a delightful blend of wit (with banter between Thea and Darien), intrigue (as evil lurks throughout), and emotional victories (as love prevails in the end)…. Watching Thea and Darien spar is entertaining, and watching them succumb to the simmering love and passion is satisfying.”
—
The State
(Columbia, SC)
To Rescue a Rogue
“Beverley brings the Regency period to life in this highly romantic story [with] vividly portrayed characters. [Readers] will be engrossed by this emotionally packed story of great love, tremendous courage, and the return of those attractive and dangerous men known as the Rogues. Her Company of Rogues series is well crafted, delicious, and wickedly captivating.”
—Joan Hammond
“With her usual beautifully nuanced characters and lyrical writing, RITA Award winner Beverley brings her popular Company of Rogues Regency historical series to a triumphant conclusion…[a] quietly powerful romance.”
—
Booklist
The Rogue’s Return
“Beverley beautifully blends complex characters, an exquisitely sensual love story, and a refreshingly different Regency setting into one sublime romance.”
—
Booklist
“Jo Beverley has written an excellent character study. One of the best books I’ve read this season.”
—
Affaire de Coeur
A Most Unsuitable Man
“
Beverley turns a rejected ‘other woman’ into a fiery, outspoken, sympathetic heroine; pairs her with a dashing but penniless, scandal-ridden hero; and lets the fun—and the danger—begin. Once again readers are treated to a delightful, intricately plotted, and sexy romp set in the slightly bawdy Georgian world of Beverley’s beloved Malloren Chronicles.”
—
Library Journal
“I found myself enjoying every minute of the relationship in this story of love, hope, and increments of witty humor. As usual, a Malloren novel is a keeper.”
—
Rendezvous
More Praise for Novels by
New York Times
Bestselling Author Jo Beverley
“A well-crafted story and an ultimately very satisfying romance.”
—
The Romance Reader
“Jo [Beverley] has truly brought to life a fascinating, glittering, and sometimes dangerous world.”
—Mary Jo Putney
“Another triumph.”
—
Affaire de Coeur
“Wickedly delicious. Jo Beverley weaves a spell of sensual delight with her usual grace and flair.”
—Teresa Medeiros
“Delightful…thrilling…with a generous touch of magic…an enchanting read.”
—
Booklist
“A stunning medieval romance of loss and redemption…sizzling.”
—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“A fast-paced adventure with strong, vividly portrayed characters…wickedly, wonderfully sensual and gloriously romantic.”
—Mary Balogh
“Deliciously sinful…. Beverley evokes with devastating precision the decadent splendor of the English country estate in all its hellish debauchery…a crafty tale of sensuality and suspense.”
—
BookPage
Also by Jo Beverley
Available from New American Library
REGENCY
THE ROGUE’S WORLD
Lady Beware
To Rescue a Rogue
The Rogue’s Return
Skylark
St. Raven
Hazard
“The Demon’s Mistress” in
In Praise of Younger Men
The Devil’s Heiress
The Dragon’s Bride
Three Heroes
(Omnibus Edition)
OTHER
Forbidden Magic
Lovers and Ladies
(Omnibus Edition)
Lord Wraybourne’s Betrothed
The Stanforth Secrets
The Stolen Bride
Emily and the Dark Angel
THE MALLOREN WORLD
An Unlikely Countess
The Secret Duke
The Secret Wedding
A Lady’s Secret
A Most Unsuitable Man
Winter Fire
Devilish
Secrets of the Night
Something Wicked
My Lady Notorious
MEDIEVAL ROMANCES
Lord of Midnight
Dark Champion
Lord of My Heart
ANTHOLOGIES
“The Raven and the Rose” in
Chalice of Roses
“The Dragon and the Virgin Princess” in
Dragon Lovers
“The Trouble with Heroes” in
Irresistible Forces
Scandalous
Countess
Jo Beverley
SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,
Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,
New Delhi –110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632,
New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,
Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, February 2012
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Copyright © Jo Beverley, 2012
All rights reserved
EISBN: 9781101574867
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
Printed in the United States of America
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.