Tempting Bella (Accidental Peers, #2) (Entangled Scandalous)

by Diana Quincy

• ISBN10: 1622662482
• ISBN13: 9781622662487
• Publish Date: 9 September 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Entangled: Scandalous
• Format: eBook
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Tempting Bella picks up soon after the epilogue of Seducing Charlotte, although it is not necessary to have read that one first, since we were only briefly introduced to the unusual marriage between Sebastian and Bella. In order to settle a gambling debt, their fathers' arrange a marriage between 19 year old Sebastian and 13 year old Bella. Since they're both young, they were both sent back off to school, then Bella traveled abroad, before being reunited six years later. Needless to say, these two didn't even recognize each other. Sebastian took his role as husband very seriously, even in his wife's absence, but Bella has been harboring feelings of abandonment and neglect and refuses to submit to her role as wife.

There are a ton of different romance tropes at play in Tempting Bella: arranged marriage, mistaken identity, misunderstandings, and enemies to lovers! It's a lot, but I really enjoyed all of it! Bella is understandable unhappy with the arrangement, which is only amplified because she thinks Sebastian married her for the money and promptly forgot about her. Sebastian is smitten with her, and really tries to make her comfortable and doesn't take advantage of his husbandly rights. She doesn't make it easy for him with her attitude though. Bella does things only to shock and upset him. I actually found this all quite funny, except for one instance where I felt like she disrespected his family for no reason. But other than that, I quite enjoyed Bella's fiestiness. Of course, once she learns the truth of the situation it's easier for Bella to see Sebastian for the good man that he really is and fall in love with him

In addition to Bella just not wanting to fall into the wife role without a fight, she believes that Sebastian is pilfering money from her father. Yes, Sebastian is now in charge of the accounts, but perhaps he's taking liberties with the money? Bella sets out on an investigation so she can bring these crimes to her father and hopefully take charge of the estate herself. Of course, Sebastian has reasons for taking more money, and they're of course super noble ones. He's way too perfect and has his hands in far too many noble pursuits. And there's some twists at the end which just kept twisting. It felt a bit dragged out to me.

I did enjoy Tempting Bella a bit more than the first book. I adored this romance, since it does take Bella longer than usual to trust Sebastian and give into her feelings for him. The extra plot wasn't quite as engaging to me, since I knew Sebastian couldn't possibly be up to no good. They don't call him "the saint" for nothing. All in all, this was another cute historical romance.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[kimbacaffeinate]

I love arranged marriage tropes and Diana Quincy offered up a most unusual one in Tempting Bella the second book in the Accidental Peers series. While I did not read Seducing Charlotte the first book, each works as a standalone. With fleshed out characters, intriguing secondary characters and a unique arrangement I became completely caught up in the tale. Mini review: intriguing, romantic, witty and refreshing.

A marriage arranged between the Duke of Wentworth and Cyrus Stanhope to pay off a gambling debt. The Duke marries off his thirteen year old daughter, Mirabella Wentworth to the 3rd son of Stanhope, Sebastian who is barely nineteen. Deeds are drawn up, and the marriage will be consummated when Mirabella comes of age. Sebastian sets off to learn his duties and run the estates, while Mirabella finishes school and then with his permission tours the world. It is six years before they meet again, and the tale that unfolds was positively delightful with strong feisty characters and intrigue.

Mirabella, or Bella is a very smart woman, who learns the running of estates while abroad and is keen on keeping the duchy secure. A Duchess by birth, she is determined to make sure her husband doesn’t run her estates into the ground. She is head strong, opinionated and doesn’t fully understand the circumstances behind her arranged marriage. Sebastian is a good man, noble and determined to restore the dukedom coiffures to their former glory. He feels bad for Bella and hasn’t forced her to return. For the first time a young woman he meets stirs his needs and he realizes he must call his wife home. I so enjoyed the banter and cat and mouse game between these two. I laughed, sighed and wanted to knock them over the head. Secondary characters from an old mistress to Bella’s wayward friends added to the drama and kept me flipping the pages.

Tempting Bella was a delightful tale, and Quincy offered a different twist to the arranged marriage trope. She weaved in drama, and suspense with clever little twists that kept me on the edge. The sexual tension between Sebastian and Bella was delicious. They bickered, and Bella’s independent streak led to some humorous situations and life lessons. I loved the growth we saw from them, and the depth Quincy brought to the characters. Devilishly handsome and anal about order, Sebastian, was a pleasure to read about. I loved how Bella twisted him about, and the more we learned about him, the harder I fell. This was positively delightful!

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review and originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer