{"id":29928,"date":"2023-02-24T11:08:06","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T15:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/?p=29928"},"modified":"2023-02-24T16:29:02","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T20:29:02","slug":"review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/","title":{"rendered":"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-29928\" data-postid=\"29928\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-29928 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    \t\t\t<!-- module_row -->\n\t<div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_8l1l300 tb_first tf_w tf_clearfix\">\n\t    \t\t\t<div class=\"row_inner col_align_top gutter-narrow tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n\t\t            <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-1 tb_jg81300 first\">\n                                                        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n                        <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_70ws300 rounded drop-shadow customBorderRad_top image-center auto_fullwidth tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n\t\t    <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"317\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?resize=317%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-29930\" title=\"the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath\" alt=\"the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?w=317&amp;ssl=1 317w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?resize=190%2C300&amp;ssl=1 190w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?resize=400%2C630&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px\" \/>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n    \t<\/div>\n<!-- \/module image --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_wa6b300 customBorderRad_bottom repeat \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society\u2019s strictures, Marguerite \u201cDaisy\u201d Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a wife\u2019s infidelity, she secures a position in the household of the woman\u2019s lover, never expecting to be lured into the seductive blackguard\u2019s arms herself.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Devilishly handsome, David Blackwood, known widely as Bishop, quickly realizes the enticing maid is interested in far more than dusting. She aims to uncover his sins. Although tempted by the dangerous beauty, he can\u2019t risk her learning the truth: his affairs are chaste. As a boy who witnessed his mother\u2019s abusive relationship, Bishop now helps desperate wives escape unhappy marriages.<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Yet when he is accused of murdering the husband of a \u201cparamour,\u201d he is forced to seek Daisy\u2019s assistance in proving his innocence. As their perilous search draws them into a web of deceits, they can no longer deny their simmering desire. Once secrets are revealed, will Daisy\u2019s counterfeit scoundrel give up the scandalous games he plays and surrender his heart into her keeping?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col3-2 tb_mkks300 last\">\n                                                        <div class=\"tb-column-inner tf_box tf_w\">\n                        <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_xutc300  repeat \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-25879 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/smitten-top-pick-banner-1-2.png?resize=296%2C72&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"296\" height=\"72\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> Feb 21, 2023<br \/><strong>Series:<\/strong>\u00a0<em>The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction<br \/><\/em><strong>Book: <\/strong>1<br \/><strong>Heat Level:<\/strong> Scorching<br \/><strong>Publisher:<\/strong>\u00a0HarperCollins\u00a0<br \/><strong>Imprint:<\/strong>\u00a0Avon Books\u00a0<br \/><strong>Price:<\/strong> $6.99<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Tropes:<\/strong> <em>Working Heroine, Disguised Character\/Mistaken Identity, Forced Proximity, Hero Falls First<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Marguerite \u201cDaisy\u201d Townsend<\/strong> is an inquiry agent, and her current job has her masquerading as a maid in the home of <strong>David Blackwood,<\/strong> known widely as <strong>Bishop<\/strong>. She&#8217;s been tasked with catching Bishop in a dalliance with her client&#8217;s wife, but perhaps Bishop is not quite the callous rake he appears to be. Bishop secretly helps desperate wives escape unhappy marriages by staging an affair, but when he is accused of murdering the husband of a \u201cparamour,\u201d Daisy\u2019s assistance is vital in proving his innocence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">This is the first book in<em> The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction<\/em> series. The book stands alone, although the group of friends known as The Chessmen (King, Bishop, Rook, and Knight) were introduced in <strong>The Duchess Hunt<\/strong>, the second book in the <em>Once Upon a Dukedom<\/em> series.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">This story gets off to a quick start with characters that have a lot of baggage and heaps of instant attraction. Despite a somewhat deceitful start, the characters really bond with their mutual rocky upbringing. Based on his parents&#8217; relationship, Bishop stands strong for women and, in particular, has issues with men who do not treat their spouses well. Daisy was born into an aristocratic family but wants to make her own way. Her parents were also an awful example of how relationships can sour and devolve.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Lorraine Heath<\/strong> is an absolute master at chemistry building. The characters are like two magnets held an inch apart, trying desperately to pull together. And when she lets them go&#8230;? Chef&#8217;s kiss, it&#8217;s delicious! Marguerite and Bishop create an employment contract to try to resist each other and keep things professional, but of course they fail miserably.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">I think anyone who likes the show <strong>Miss Scarlet and the Duke<\/strong> (PBS) will love this book! It&#8217;s another solid addition to Heath&#8217;s catalogue, and I&#8217;m looking forward to getting to know the next Chessman.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><em>~ Leslie<\/em><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_cl2e300 customBorderRad repeat \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n    <p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3XZicL5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a><\/span><span class=\"s2\">\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apple.co\/41pVcYM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">iBooks<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath\/1141579009?ean=9780063114647\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">B&amp;N<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">Kobo<\/span><\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details\/Lorraine_Heath_The_Counterfeit_Scoundrel?id=ykByEAAAQBAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"s3\">Google Play<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->                    <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n            \t    <\/div>\n\t    <!-- \/row_inner -->\n\t<\/div>\n\t<!-- \/module_row -->\n\t<\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society\u2019s strictures, Marguerite \u201cDaisy\u201d Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29930,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,106,113,48],"tags":[153,305,307,404,405,406,485],"class_list":["post-29928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avon-books","category-harpercollins","category-leslie","category-reviews","tag-4-5-stars","tag-historical-romance","tag-historicals","tag-recommend","tag-recommended-reads","tag-regency","tag-top-picks"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath - Smitten by Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath - Smitten by Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society\u2019s strictures, Marguerite \u201cDaisy\u201d Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Smitten by Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-02-24T15:08:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-02-24T20:29:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"317\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"beverley\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"beverley\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"beverley\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5a4181aeb9cd5641e30023b9b4d3e00d\"},\"headline\":\"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-24T15:08:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-02-24T20:29:02+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":7,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"4.5 Stars\",\"historical romance\",\"historicals\",\"recommend\",\"Recommended Reads\",\"regency\",\"top picks\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Avon Books\",\"HarperCollins\",\"Leslie\",\"Reviews\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/\",\"name\":\"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath - Smitten by Books\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-24T15:08:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-02-24T20:29:02+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1\",\"width\":317,\"height\":500},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/24\\\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Smitten by Books\",\"description\":\"Where HEAs are guaranteed\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Smitten by Books\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/cropped-smittenlogo-2017.png?fit=281%2C265&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/cropped-smittenlogo-2017.png?fit=281%2C265&ssl=1\",\"width\":281,\"height\":265,\"caption\":\"Smitten by Books\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5a4181aeb9cd5641e30023b9b4d3e00d\",\"name\":\"beverley\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d01d9a027fd24b3d94658206104dd5d7aaffba75b651e55c08358a9bc51b26a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d01d9a027fd24b3d94658206104dd5d7aaffba75b651e55c08358a9bc51b26a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/d01d9a027fd24b3d94658206104dd5d7aaffba75b651e55c08358a9bc51b26a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"beverley\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smittenbybooks.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/beverley\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath - Smitten by Books","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath - Smitten by Books","og_description":"Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society\u2019s strictures, Marguerite \u201cDaisy\u201d Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/","og_site_name":"Smitten by Books","article_published_time":"2023-02-24T15:08:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-02-24T20:29:02+00:00","og_image":[{"width":317,"height":500,"url":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"beverley","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"beverley"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/"},"author":{"name":"beverley","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5a4181aeb9cd5641e30023b9b4d3e00d"},"headline":"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath","datePublished":"2023-02-24T15:08:06+00:00","dateModified":"2023-02-24T20:29:02+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/"},"wordCount":7,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1","keywords":["4.5 Stars","historical romance","historicals","recommend","Recommended Reads","regency","top picks"],"articleSection":["Avon Books","HarperCollins","Leslie","Reviews"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/","url":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/","name":"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath - Smitten by Books","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1","datePublished":"2023-02-24T15:08:06+00:00","dateModified":"2023-02-24T20:29:02+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1","width":317,"height":500},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/24\/review-the-counterfeit-scoundrel-by-lorraine-heath\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Review \u2764\ufe0f The Counterfeit Scoundrel by Lorraine Heath"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/","name":"Smitten by Books","description":"Where HEAs are guaranteed","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Smitten by Books","url":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/cropped-smittenlogo-2017.png?fit=281%2C265&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/cropped-smittenlogo-2017.png?fit=281%2C265&ssl=1","width":281,"height":265,"caption":"Smitten by Books"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/5a4181aeb9cd5641e30023b9b4d3e00d","name":"beverley","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d01d9a027fd24b3d94658206104dd5d7aaffba75b651e55c08358a9bc51b26a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d01d9a027fd24b3d94658206104dd5d7aaffba75b651e55c08358a9bc51b26a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d01d9a027fd24b3d94658206104dd5d7aaffba75b651e55c08358a9bc51b26a1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"beverley"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog"],"url":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/author\/beverley\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?fit=317%2C500&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"builder_content":"<img src=\"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg\" title=\"the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath\" alt=\"the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?w=317&amp;ssl=1 317w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?resize=190%2C300&amp;ssl=1 190w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath.jpg?resize=400%2C630&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px\" \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society\u2019s strictures, Marguerite \u201cDaisy\u201d Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a wife\u2019s infidelity, she secures a position in the household of the woman\u2019s lover, never expecting to be lured into the seductive blackguard\u2019s arms herself.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Devilishly handsome, David Blackwood, known widely as Bishop, quickly realizes the enticing maid is interested in far more than dusting. She aims to uncover his sins. Although tempted by the dangerous beauty, he can\u2019t risk her learning the truth: his affairs are chaste. As a boy who witnessed his mother\u2019s abusive relationship, Bishop now helps desperate wives escape unhappy marriages.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet when he is accused of murdering the husband of a \u201cparamour,\u201d he is forced to seek Daisy\u2019s assistance in proving his innocence. As their perilous search draws them into a web of deceits, they can no longer deny their simmering desire. Once secrets are revealed, will Daisy\u2019s counterfeit scoundrel give up the scandalous games he plays and surrender his heart into her keeping?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/smitten-top-pick-banner-1-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"296\" height=\"72\" \/><\/p> <hr \/> <p><strong>Release Date:<\/strong> Feb 21, 2023<br \/><strong>Series:<\/strong>\u00a0<em>The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction<br \/><\/em><strong>Book: <\/strong>1<br \/><strong>Heat Level:<\/strong> Scorching<br \/><strong>Publisher:<\/strong>\u00a0HarperCollins\u00a0<br \/><strong>Imprint:<\/strong>\u00a0Avon Books\u00a0<br \/><strong>Price:<\/strong> $6.99<\/p> <hr \/> <p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Tropes:<\/strong> <em>Working Heroine, Disguised Character\/Mistaken Identity, Forced Proximity, Hero Falls First<\/em><\/p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Marguerite \u201cDaisy\u201d Townsend<\/strong> is an inquiry agent, and her current job has her masquerading as a maid in the home of <strong>David Blackwood,<\/strong> known widely as <strong>Bishop<\/strong>. She's been tasked with catching Bishop in a dalliance with her client's wife, but perhaps Bishop is not quite the callous rake he appears to be. Bishop secretly helps desperate wives escape unhappy marriages by staging an affair, but when he is accused of murdering the husband of a \u201cparamour,\u201d Daisy\u2019s assistance is vital in proving his innocence.<\/p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">This is the first book in<em> The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction<\/em> series. The book stands alone, although the group of friends known as The Chessmen (King, Bishop, Rook, and Knight) were introduced in <strong>The Duchess Hunt<\/strong>, the second book in the <em>Once Upon a Dukedom<\/em> series.<\/p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">This story gets off to a quick start with characters that have a lot of baggage and heaps of instant attraction. Despite a somewhat deceitful start, the characters really bond with their mutual rocky upbringing. Based on his parents' relationship, Bishop stands strong for women and, in particular, has issues with men who do not treat their spouses well. Daisy was born into an aristocratic family but wants to make her own way. Her parents were also an awful example of how relationships can sour and devolve.<\/p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Lorraine Heath<\/strong> is an absolute master at chemistry building. The characters are like two magnets held an inch apart, trying desperately to pull together. And when she lets them go...? Chef's kiss, it's delicious! Marguerite and Bishop create an employment contract to try to resist each other and keep things professional, but of course they fail miserably.<\/p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">I think anyone who likes the show <strong>Miss Scarlet and the Duke<\/strong> (PBS) will love this book! It's another solid addition to Heath's catalogue, and I'm looking forward to getting to know the next Chessman.<\/p> <p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><em>~ Leslie<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3XZicL5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apple.co\/41pVcYM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iBooks<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-lorraine-heath\/1141579009?ean=9780063114647\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">B&amp;N<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/the-counterfeit-scoundrel-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kobo<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details\/Lorraine_Heath_The_Counterfeit_Scoundrel?id=ykByEAAAQBAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Play<\/a><\/strong><\/p>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29928"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29943,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29928\/revisions\/29943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smittenbybooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}