ARC Review: It Started with a Whisper (an Anthology)

It Started With a Whisper: A Historical Romance Collection by Dawn Brower, Amanda Mariel, Deb Marlowe, Chritina McKnight, Erica Monroe, Ava Stone
on January 23rd 2018
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It started with a whisper...
Rumors, gossip, and secrets all have a way of unraveling at the worst possible time. Follow each story as it leads you through a path of mystery and intrigue. Lady X's gossip sheet tells all and it leaves everybody talking. The rumors have the potential to ruin lives and with each whisper a new scandal arises.
Will those who find themselves the subject of her scandal sheet escape unscathed and discover who Lady X is along the way?
One Moonlit Tryst by Amanda Mariel Lady Tabitha Pemberton wants nothing more than to enjoy her first season without becoming attached, but when Lady X writes of a forbidden tryst between Tabitha and Colin Brooks, the earl of Harcourt, everything changes. Now Tabitha must choose between her reputation and her desire to remain unattached.
Love Me, Lord Tender by Deb Marlowe Lord Tensford has an old title and an empty purse. He knew it would be difficult to find a Society bride, but after Lady X heeds baseless rumor and brands him Lord Terror, it's next to impossible.Until he comes to the aid of Lady Hope Brightley, causing Lady X to re-dub him Lord Tender. Now he's a laughing stock and a fortune hunter. But Lady Hope means to repay him and help him find a bride. In the end, will she turn him over to the perfect mate? Or ask him to . . . Love Me, Lord Tender?
The Lady Loves a Scandal by Christina McKnight Many years ago, Gideon Lyndon, Viscount Galway, made a grave mistake. On the verge of rectifying this misdeed, he finds himself faced with his greatest challenge yet: winning back the woman he has loved since the moment he met her. But after a year of silence, convincing his headstrong paramour Sybil Anson to take him back will not be easy. Especially since he can't even explain why he left--not if he wants to keep her safe.
The Scandalous Widow by Erica Monroe Bow Street Runner Gabriel Sinclair has spent the last three years trying to forget about smart, beautiful Lady Jemma Forster, Countess of Wolverston, who broke his heart when she married his best friend. Her husband's death thrusts Gabriel and Jemma back together, as they work to find his murderer. Their investigation takes them into the darkest, most dangerous parts of London. They're perfect partners for solving crimes, but can they be partners in love too?
How to Land an Earl in Ten Days or Less by Ava Stone Known for his silver tongue, Reese Delacy, the Earl of Darling, wagers that he can make any girl fall in love with him in less than a fortnight. Unfortunately, the boast catches the ear and subsequently the pen of a notorious gossip columnist, making Reese a pariah in short order. He seems doomed for failure until he meets a Bermudian beauty who is seemingly unaware of the scandal. With control of the Caribbean salt trade hanging in the balance, Miss Cara Beckett, left her home to solicit the support of parliament, never imagining she'd become embroiled in a reckless wager.
A Lady Hoyden's Secret by Dawn Brower Lady Helena Carter has a secret. She dare not reveal it and court her own ruin--or incur the wrath of Lady X. Oliver Hunt, the Marquess of Dashville has problems of his own regarding the Lady of Whispers, and only Lady Helena can help him. As they cross paths, desire sparks between them. Their budding romance is tested as secrets are uncovered, and the revelations will either bring them closer together or tear them apart forever.

~~Reviewed by AnnMarie~~

It Started With a Whisper: A Historical Romance Collection

is an anthology by 6 authors. Each story is about people who are affected by the gossip paper written by Lady X.

One Moonlit Tryst by Amanda Mariel

Colin and Tabitha, share a passionate kiss not realising Lady X had seen them and happily made them the headline of her next publication. Because of that they end up betrothed which was the last thing either of them wanted.

Love Me, Lord Tender by Deb Marlowe

Lady X goes from deeming Lord Tensford as Lord Terrible to Lord Tender after he comes to the aid of Lady Hope Brightly who is trying to push away a suitor who is determined to marry her and will compromise her to get what he wants. When she hears Tensford being maligned she is quick to defend him and in an aside more to herself than anybody she says he is Lord Tender not Terrible. To make up for her part in the new nickname, Hope offers to help Tensford find a wife. Is she hoping that it’s her that he chooses despite the fact he needs a woman of means, will she ever get over him if he chooses the latter?

The Lady Loves a Scandal by Christina McKnight

Gideon Lyndon and Sybil Anson were all but married, the contracts just needing to be signed when he disappeared from her life for a year with no explanation. He had a very good reason for leaving, but he couldn’t tell her as it could put her and her family in peril. Lady X happily reported how Gideon had run away from Sybil and made people wonder just why he didn’t want to marry her.

Finally feeling it is safe enough to return Gideon returns and makes it his goal to win back the love of Sybil.

The Scandalous Widow by Erica Monroe

Gabriel Sinclair is a Bow Street runner and a very good one. When his friend Philip Forster is murdered, Lady X, of course, has to write about it because of where the murder took place. Gabriel suspects that the person supposedly responsible for Philip’s death isn’t the person who really committed the crime. When Philip’s widow, a woman he has loved from afar for years, asks him to help her prove that her brother-in-law committed the murder he agrees to help.

Will they get the proof they need to have him arrested, and will old feelings between the couple come to the surface now that they are spending time together again?

How to Land an Earl in Ten Days or Less by Ava Stone

Reese Delacy is the Earl of Darling is a charmer. He finds himself the pariah of society when Miss X Whispers reported that he was overheard making a wager that he could win a women’s heart in 10 days or less. Every woman of the ton shunned him and him and he thought he would have no chance of winning the bet. That is until he meets Miss Cara Beckett. She has come from Bermuda because the Caribbean salt trade, which her family have major holdings of is hanging in the balance. She needs to gain the support of parliament.

He finds her willing to be charmed by him, unaware that she too had her own agenda. Both believe they are only acting out a courtship, but it isn’t long before they individually realise that they aren’t acting anymore! Can there be a real love between them when everything they are doing is based on bets?

A Lady Hoyden’s Secret by Dawn Brower

Helena Carter has been out for three seasons and still finds herself single. She is OK with that and knowing that her father would never help her, and only wanted her to be married and off his hands, she finds a way to make and save money.

She met Dashville years ago where he made it plain that he didn’t want to dance with her whilst actually doing just that. Now 5 years later when he asks her to dance, she snubs him and becomes fodder for Lady X’s gossip.

Realising what a fool he was for treating Helena so badly, and seeing how she had matured since last seeing her he realises that he is definitely attracted to her. Will he be able to win her affections or will she only concentrate on how badly he treated her before? Lady X’s identity is made known to us

in this story!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed all of these lovely stories. They were just the right length to keep my attention riveted while being full of exciting content with love winning out every time of course.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers’ copy of this book.

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