Ten Kisses to Scandal (Misadventures in Matchmaking, #2)

by Vivienne Lorret

[Lindsey Gray]

Arthur: This was some Meet-Cute. Iris: Sorry? Arthur: It’s how two characters meet in a movie. Say a man and a woman both need something to sleep in and both go to the same men’s pajama department. The man says to the salesman, “I just need bottoms,” and the woman says, “I just need a top.” They look at each other and that’s the ‘meet cute’. ~Arthur and Iris from the movie, The Holiday

I’ve read hundreds of ‘meet cutes’ over my years of reading romance novels. Never, in all those years, has a ‘meet cute’ involved a young lady stepping in horse dung. I don’t think this is much of a spoiler since it happens in the very beginning of this novel. As far as ‘meet cutes’ go, this one tops my favorites list. It’s imaginative and fun, which is a great way to start off this fantastic love story.

Briar Bourne is the youngest of the Bourne sisters and believes she has the most to prove as a matchmaker in The Bourne Matrimonial Agency. Her first match is a disaster, which leads her to leave her home in the early morning where she bumps into the Earl of Edgemont, Nicholas Blacklowe. ‘Meet cute’ ensues, but they don’t really get to know each other until months later.

I love how Lorret set up this love story! Briar needs to know how men and women relate, learn how to read body language and other telling cues. Nicholas is just the man to teach her, but being the rake he is, he wants something delicious in return. Each kiss is surrounded by a huge development in their blossoming relationship. Their banter is hilarious at times, while sweet and complicated at others.

Lorret brings in an amazing array of secondary characters, mainly Nicholas’ cousins, Temperance and Daniel. Temperance is the no nonsense best friend of Briar as well. She brings in another sassy element that compliments her relationships with both Nicholas and Briar. While Daniel is a bit more sedate because of his depressed state after being jilted, he comes to life again slowly as he interacts with Briar and his family.

While this isn’t my first Lorret read, it is the first in this series. I can’t wait to go back and read Jacinda and Crispin’s story, How to Forget a Duke, and I’m anxiously awaiting Ainsley and Reed’s story, The Rouge to Ruin.

I received Ten Kisses to Scandal for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.