The heroine is the future duchess of Magnus, supposedly because Queen Elizabeth I decreed the firstborn child would inherit the title regardless of gender. Seems unlikely to me. Also she was always introduced to people as "the Marchioness of Sheridan and the future duchess of Magnus" - which doesn't seem proper, for the future title to be announced like that.

It looked to me like the author was so enamoured of the idea for her heroine to be a duchess that she made up this ridiculous story of Elizabeth I and also says that everybody called her "your Grace" even though she hadn't inherited the title yet (her father was still alive) - but there isn't any explanation of why they would do that.

Other than that, I enjoyed the story and the main characters. The constant mention of the heroine being a duchess (when she wasn't) was quite irritating and spoiled it for me though.

I was ambivalent about Madeline and actually found myself despising Gabriel.

Some major issues:

1. Very little is explained about how Gabriel and Madeline fell in love. It is described in very vague terms - Madeline saw him, danced with him, and fell in love. We don't even get that much information about how/why Gabriel fell in love with Madeline.

2. The break-up was based on, I thought, a decent premise. Madeline hated gambling, Gabriel knew that, and he gambled anyway. However, when Madeline confronted him at Almack's, why didn't Gabriel explain his actions? Why didn't he ever realize his mistake in gambling when he knew how Madeline felt about it? I think he owed her an apology - not the other way around.

3. Madeline leaves Gabriel, but he never goes after her. Yeah, he's busy with war-related stuff, but in 4 years I think he could have tracked her down and won her back. Especially considering he took her virginity before she left him. I absoluted HATED when he casually asked Maddie if she had had his baby. What a total jerk! If he cared at all for her or a possible baby, he would have stopped at nothing to get her back (or at least make sure she was all right).

4. We never know why these two people should be together. Aside from their amazing sexual chemistry, I never felt like Gabriel and Madeline really knew or loved each other. In fact, I don't remember if Gabriel even said "I love you" before the very end. It just seemed like these two had a love/hate relationship that had no chance of lasting. They were both too immature and selfish.

The sex scenes were explicit and very passionate (the only reason for 2 stars instead of 1). Unfortunately, they couldn't make up for the unlikable characters and rather insipid plot.

Madeline de Lacy, the Marchioness of Sheridan and future Duchess of Magnus, has barely set foot back in England after four years when she is blithely told by her disaster-prone papa that he has wagered her in a game of piquet...and lost. Composed and practical -- she's had to be to deal with her father's fiascos for the last seventeen years since her mama's death -- Madeline sets out for London with her companion and cousin, Eleanor, to deal with this would-be fiancý.

However, the two cousins' plans change course when they find out that "the Game of the Century" is about to commence at a country estate. Knowing this is just the sort of rig her father would love to participate in, Madeline is convinced he will show up with a prized family heirloom in tow. Unable to be in two places at the same time, Madeline convinces her cousin Eleanor to switch places with her. Eleanor will go on to London and keep the fiancý at bay, while Madeline will head for the country estate where the Game is being held. Hiring on as a companion to a family heading to the event, Madeline prepares herself for her father's arrival. Unfortunately, all the preparation in the world does not prepare her when she encounters Gabriel Ansell, the Earl of Campion. The man she jilted very publicly four years ago.

Gabriel Ansell has waited four long years for Madeline de Lacy to return to England. Instantly recognizing his former fiancýe in her "disguise," Gabriel is determined to find out her reasons for the charade and get her back in his arms where she belongs. Unfortunately, his beloved is as headstrong and stubborn as ever so the Earl decides the best way to keep an eye on her is to help her. Soon the two are up to their ears in intrigue, villains and kisses.

The first in Christina Dodd's Changing Places duet, SCANDALOUS AGAIN is an exhilarating romantic battle of wills. Imagine the best of the classic Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn movies with a dash of The Parent Trap and a dose of Jane Austen (for the historical setting, of course), and you'll get a sense of what a delicious romp this story is. Shaped by her family history, pragmatic Madeline is a woman afraid to let her guard down even to the man she loves. Gabriel is a special hero. Patient and stubborn in his own way, he is a perfect match for Madeline and their unforgettable encounters run the gamut from amusing to poignant.

Note: Eleanor's story is told in ONE KISS FROM YOU.

TheSchemer

REAL Synopsis.
Madeline de Lacy, Marchioness and future duchess disguises herself as a companion of a wealthy family in order to go to a gambling weekend party, to stop her dad from betting a family heirloom. There she meets with her past in the form of the Lord Campion, the only man she has loved. The entire story takes place in this big gambling event, the romance between the main characters happened during the past, so we are just introduced to it by memories. There is a villain also and some non-memorable characters too.
What is wrong with it: The entire story is insipid; the main characters have no charm. The heroine is one of those "very independent" women that tend to be stubborn and stupid and the lead male is mostly annoying with no quality. It is very difficult to care for them because it feels like the nice love story happened in a part of the book that is missing and now the characters just have contempt for each other.
The dialogues have no wit or wisdom, which makes this novel a very boring and uninteresting reading.