A Scoundrel of Her Own

I enjoyed reading Fifi and Devlin’s amazing story in A Scoundrel of Her Own by Stacy Reid, book three in her Sinful Wallflowers series. Devlin Niall Byrne and Lady Ophelia Darby met years ago when they were children and he saved her from drowning and then kept her safe for days before they were found. Back then they were simply Niall and Fifi: with 12-year old Niall falling in love with her, swearing to always keep her safe and asking her to marry him. Then 8-year-old Ophelia agreed, not realizing the difference in their stations would keep them apart. When she was returned to her parents, her father made it very clear to Niall that he would never be good enough for Ophelia and sent him on his way. But Niall knew that from that moment on, he would do whatever was necessary to become worthy of his Fifi. Many years later Devlin Byrne has become a very rich man who has just about given up trying to find his Fifi when fate steps in; bringing these two together again. Ophelia has had a good life which becomes upended when she learns that she was the product of a dalliance her father had when he first married. If only that was the only secret her father kept from her. Ophelia becomes devoted to learning all she can about her birth mother; risking her safety by visiting the darker side of London. It is there she finds Devlin. Devlin is a wonderful hero and Ophelia is his perfect match. Their story has a bit of everything, secrets, lies, betrayal, forbidden love, magnetic chemistry, sizzling love scenes, and an ending that will bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your face. Ms. Reid wrote an emotional, love story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, sizzling chemistry, secrets, wonderful dialogue, and engaging characters giving Fifi and Devlin a chance to have a forever love. I highly recommend A Scoundrel of Her Own to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This was a wickedly fun, hot and angsty read! I absolutely LOVED the beginning of Ophelia’s and Devlin’s story. My heart was instantly captivated and once I hit the time jump, I experienced such a riot of emotions I couldn’t stop reading. Ophelia was a multi dimensional heroine and I adored everything about her. She was raised with a unique set of circumstances and I was anxious to learn all the ins and outs regarding it. There were definitely times that her actions hurt my heart, but I also understood the reasons behind them. Devlin was an alpha hero to the core. From the first moment he interacted with Fifi his main objective was protection. That one incident was the foundation for everything he did from that point onward and holy heck, that’s the stuff of true romance! This book ran me through a gamut of emotion. From laughter, danger, high angst and finally an ending that satisfied my soul. I feel like I’ve been tumbled upside down, right-side up and inside out and I’d gladly go through it all again for such a beautifully written story of love.

"Niall is my slice of wickedness…" Whew! Same, Ophelia. Same. Niall (Devlin) is such a yummy slice of every bad boy fantasy in 1823, but underneath all that wicked strength lies the tender heart of a boy who fell in love long, long ago. The prologue to this story moved me like no other ever has. Such a pure love, transcending all obstacles, beautifully set the stage for their later romance. Even though they would both grow up to be so very different, their HEA was exquisitely inevitable. The only flaw in this story is the cover image - Ophelia is recognized by her raven-black hair, not the blonde on the cover. But that's a forgettable error in an otherwise perfect book. The way the author drew us in was absolutely breathtaking: the haunting backstory for Devlin, the steadfastness of his feelings for the girl he couldn't forget, the determination of Ophelia's family to see her fulfill their plans, her struggle to reconcile her love for her parents with her need to find the answers she needs. This was a book I could neither put down nor rush through. Many times I had to reread a scene just to savor the depth of emotions and I was truly captivated all the way to the end. As Devlin and Ophelia fearlessly challenge society's class rules, one realizes that this is almost an anti-Regency romance. Sure, we all love reading about the romances of the aristocracy and their opulent lives, but this book reminds us that the vast majority of heroes and heroines throughout history were not of the privileged set. I welcomed that reminder here, as it made the story all the more authentic and relatable. The author brilliantly describes the true hallmark of soulmates by showing Devlin and Ophelia being completely relaxed and unmasked with each other. Their story is hauntingly romantic, aptly described by him as "mutually assured madness." Love, when done right, certainly is that. This is one of the best, if not the very best, of the more than 300 books I've read this year. If you enjoy historical romances at all, you owe it to yourself to indulge in this exceptional story. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.