November 5, 2020
Oh No, Another Hot-Button Trigger! Ewwww, Age Difference
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Now, on to the second book in the Misadventures in Matchmaking series, Ten Kisses to Scandal. And, we continue our journey with the Bourne Matrimonial Agency. If you recall, this agency was founded by three aristocratic women who have no experience in the business world, and their Uncle Ernest. Forget the uncle, he's not much of a business partner, nor does he do much protection of his three unmarried nieces. This story is about the youngest sister, Briar Bourne. Briar's whine/theme is: "I can do it." Briar is not only the youngest sister, she is young, young, and young. Almost everything she does in this book is immature. In her enthusiasm to prove herself, she charges into things without any forethought. Which is how she meets our hero Nicholas Blacklowe, the Earl of Edgemont. 
Now, on to the second book in the Misadventures in Matchmaking series, Ten Kisses to Scandal. And, we continue our journey with the Bourne Matrimonial Agency. If you recall, this agency was founded by three aristocratic women who have no experience in the business world, and their Uncle Ernest. Forget the uncle, he's not much of a business partner, nor does he do much protection of his three unmarried nieces. This story is about the youngest sister, Briar Bourne. Briar's whine/theme is: "I can do it." Briar is not only the youngest sister, she is young, young, and young. Almost everything she does in this book is immature. In her enthusiasm to prove herself, she charges into things without any forethought. Which is how she meets our hero Nicholas Blacklowe, the Earl of Edgemont.
In her rush to board a hackney, she interrupts him in the process of sucking on his mistress. After sending his mistress on his way, he and Briar get into an argument, she steps into poop, loses her lucky shoe, and leaves in a huff. She returns to the agency, and makes a ton of other mistakes, she even unknowingly matches a mother with a son. I'm assuming all these little "I-know-what-I'm-doing" mistakes were meant to be funny and endearing, but I found them irritating. Not only is Briar immature, but that immaturity is only enhanced by the fact that the hero is 14 years older than she. Nicholas is not just older in years, he is way more mature. He is experienced in ways that are far beyond a clueless, young girl. In fact, I had flashbacks of Barbara Cartland stories. And, that's not a good thing. All those blushing, innocent virgin's being manipulated by the older man. Eewww! I found Briar and Nicholas, as a couple, icky alllll the way through this book.
For me, Nicholas was a throw-back to a bodice-ripper hero of yore. He controls everyone in his life, or at least he tries. He thinks for his two cousins: Daniel and Temperance. Approximately six months after his run-in with Briar, he approaches the agency to find mates for his cousins. There are a number of convoluted connections between boo-hoo Daniel, Nicholas and an evil woman. By the way, Briar trips over her stupidity when she meets the evil woman. Oh yes, Briar also happens to be the best friend of Temperance. And, let me say this: if you have a friend like Temperance you don't need any enemies.
Either Nicholas should have been less of the alll knowing rake, or Briar should have been less of a naive goof-ball. I'm sure the author meant for their antics to be funny, but I found them irritating. The three sisters have copies of Jane Austen's Emma. The book is a connection to their deceased mother. It is also an example they have used to establish their agency...so evidently they haven’t read Emma all that carefully. Did anything Emma do to "help" people around her ever work? Nooooo. I was never that fond of Emma, I never found her funny, just embarrassing.
Bottom-line. I wasn't fond of Ten Kisses to Scandal. The hero was toooo old for the heroine, he was too manipulative, tooooo experienced. The heroine was toooo naive. I'm sure her oops-sorry moments were meant to be funny, but I found them irritating. Sorry to say, this story didn't work for me.
For me, Nicholas was a throw-back to a bodice-ripper hero of yore. He controls everyone in his life, or at least he tries. He thinks for his two cousins: Daniel and Temperance. Approximately six months after his run-in with Briar, he approaches the agency to find mates for his cousins. There are a number of convoluted connections between boo-hoo Daniel, Nicholas and an evil woman. By the way, Briar trips over her stupidity when she meets the evil woman. Oh yes, Briar also happens to be the best friend of Temperance. And, let me say this: if you have a friend like Temperance you don't need any enemies.
Either Nicholas should have been less of the alll knowing rake, or Briar should have been less of a naive goof-ball. I'm sure the author meant for their antics to be funny, but I found them irritating. The three sisters have copies of Jane Austen's Emma. The book is a connection to their deceased mother. It is also an example they have used to establish their agency...so evidently they haven’t read Emma all that carefully. Did anything Emma do to "help" people around her ever work? Nooooo. I was never that fond of Emma, I never found her funny, just embarrassing.
Bottom-line. I wasn't fond of Ten Kisses to Scandal. The hero was toooo old for the heroine, he was too manipulative, tooooo experienced. The heroine was toooo naive. I'm sure her oops-sorry moments were meant to be funny, but I found them irritating. Sorry to say, this story didn't work for me.
Time/Place: 1820s England
Sensuality: Warm/Hot
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