Scoundrel's Daughter is a charming novel to launch the Brides of Bellaire Gardens series from acclaimed author Anne Gracie (Marry in Scandal), with an intriguing cast of characters sure to delight readers. Lady Alice Charlton has buried her abusive, obnoxious late husband and is happily looking forward to enjoying life as a single lady of moderate means. Her pleasant anticipation is shattered, however, when a scoundrel appears and threatens the public release of letters written by her late husband to his mistress. The sketchy stranger demands Alice introduce his daughter, Lucy, into society and guarantee the girl's marriage to a lord in return for the letters.
Dismayed, Alice reluctantly agrees but soon discovers Lucy has no interest in marrying a lord. Alice turns to her nephew, Gerald, for assistance in recovering the letters, and he approaches his ex-commander, Lord James Tarrant, for aid. Neither Alice, James, Lucy or Gerald have heretofore been interested in marriage. It isn't long, however, before James is mustering all the charm he possesses to entice the lovely Alice into seeing him as a potential husband. Gerald has a much more difficult prospect in Lucy, however, for she's a decidedly independent young woman who isn't inclined to see him in a favorable light.
This duel between determined male suitors and reluctant ladies is grounded with authentic emotional connections and a well-crafted plot. Paired with colorful secondary characters--which include three adorable little girls, a cat, one extremely annoying mother and several quirky gentlemen--the result is a thoroughly entertaining tale. Readers are in for a treat. --Lois Faye Dyer, writer and reviewer