A Kiss Away From Scandal

A Kiss Away From Scandal
Christine Merrill

If the truth comes out…There will be scandal!Part of Those Scandalous Stricklands: Hope Strickland must find the lost items of her family’s estate. Mysterious Gregory Drake, expert at fixing the problems of the aristocracy, is hired to help. As they embark on the search Hope finds herself drawn to the handsome stranger. He may not be a gentleman but Hope’s tempted to put aside her marriage prospects for a forbidden night – in Gregory’s bed!

If the truth comes out...

...there will be scandal!

In this Those Scandalous Stricklands story, Hope Strickland must find the lost items of her family’s estate. Mysterious Gregory Drake, expert at fixing the problems of the aristocracy, is hired to help. As they embark on the search, Hope finds herself drawn to the handsome stranger. He may not be a gentleman, but Hope’s tempted to put aside her marriage prospects for a forbidden night—in Gregory’s bed!

Those Scandalous Stricklands miniseries

Book 1—A Kiss Away From Scandal

Look out for the next book, coming soon!

“Readers will enjoy the strong characters, swift pace, lively wit and the wickedly fun escapades that stubborn lovers can get into.”

—RT Book Reviews on “Her Christmas Temptation” in Regency Christmas Wishes

“Merrill pens another winner.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Wedding Game

CHRISTINE MERRILL lives on a farm in Wisconsin, USA, with her husband, two sons and too many pets—all of whom would like her to get off the computer so they can check their email. She has worked by turns in theatre costuming and as a librarian. Writing historical romance combines her love of good stories and fancy dress with her ability to stare out of the window and make stuff up.

Also by Christine Merrill (#u4070f45f-a864-5b81-a75e-1689b2bcb13c)

The Wedding Game

A Convenient Bride for the Soldier

Regency Christmas Wishes

The Sinner and the Saint miniseries

The Greatest of Sins

The Fall of a Saint

The de Bryun Sisters miniseries

The Truth About Lady Felkirk

A Ring from a Marquess

Those Scandalous Stricklands miniseries

A Kiss Away from Scandal

And look out for the next book

Coming soon

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).

A Kiss Away from Scandal

Christine Merrill

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ISBN: 978-1-474-07374-5

A KISS AWAY FROM SCANDAL

© 2018 Christine Merrill

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To Clara Bloczynski: there can be only one.

Contents

Cover (#u9b01dcc4-e3cf-50e0-bc38-84090bea415b)

Back Cover Text (#ucd385715-df68-5039-9ec0-a93aca44e9b2)

About the Author (#u56cd3db8-7b29-5386-bda6-d50578c8f4d8)

Booklist (#uee306354-c5cb-580a-8add-53b63644cb0b)

Title Page (#ucedefffe-5a5f-5165-856e-64625fd274ec)

Copyright (#u5d072dbd-9056-5752-8925-4542e5e61bae)

Dedication (#ud11ddd98-547e-5610-b9a4-1eed7c913389)