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About the Book

Title: A Proper Scoundrel
Author: Esther Hatch
Genre: Regency Romance
Release date: May 10, 2021

His scandals were right on track until she derailed everything.

As the successful owner of multiple railroad lines, Diana Barton is all too accustomed to fending off suitors seeking to stake their claim on her wealth. In order to keep the wolves at bay, Diana has contrived the perfect plan: appeal to the most notorious rake in London, the Baron Lord Bryant, to ruin her reputation and scare off the worst of the time wasters. The ruse will be no hardship—she’s secretly been fascinated by the man for years.

Lord Bryant is well aware of his questionable reputation. Indeed, he has cultivated the image carefully, and the last thing he wants is a wife. When he’s approached by the younger sister of a business associate, he tells her in no uncertain terms that he cannot help. However, when he sees for himself what she is up against, Bryant grudgingly offers his assistance. Faced with his most complicated entanglement yet, Bryant is firm in his conditions—and Diana knows that to get romantically involved with Bryant would spell certain heartbreak. But as the counterfeit couple grows ever closer, the line between truth and lies becomes blurred, threatening both Lord Bryant’s well-laid plans and the future of Diana’s railroad business.

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About the Author

Esther Hatch grew up on a cherry orchard in rural Utah. After high school, she alternated living in Russia to teach children English and attending Brigham Young University in order to get a degree in archaeology. She began writing when one of her favorite authors invited her to join a critique group. The only catch was she had to be a writer. Not one to be left out of an opportunity to socialize and try something new; she started on her first novel that week.

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My Review

A Proper Scoundrel
by Esther Hatch
Book 3 in the Proper Scandals series
Rating: 4.5/5

Who doesn’t love a bad boy with a heart of gold? Who doesn’t love Han Solo? Esther Hatch delivers a fun and swoon-worthy regency romance that is sure to make you smile and root for the entertaining couple. Although this is book three in the series, you can still read this one as a standalone.

Diana Barton is the woman running multiple railroad lines and loves her job. She has no intention of marrying soon, but many suitors start to disrupt her work so she has to find a solution. Desperate for some relief, Diana goes to see Lord Everton Bryant who has a carefully preserved reputation as a scoundrel and cad. She needs someone to ruin her reputation so she can stop fending off would-be callers and do her job. Lord Bryant is hesitant to get involved but he eventually acquiesces and can’t seem to get the lovely Diana out of his head. She is headstrong and likes to push back against him. He enjoys provoking her and getting a rise out of her. Will Lord Bryant’s past and reputation prevent him from having a future full of life, hope and love? Can Diana trust that Lord Bryant won’t derail her plans?

The chemistry and banter between the two main characters is so good and should not be surprising if you’ve read anything from the author before. She has a talent for strong, female leads – I loved how smart and resourceful Diana was as a businesswoman. She was more like Lord Bryant’s equal. I think what Lord Bryant was trying to do to help young women was admirable but he definitely deserved his own HEA.

Highly recommend this fantastic read if you enjoy clean regency romance with some spice and a lot of heart!

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.