I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

When the Scoundrel Sins is the second book in Anna Harrington’s Capturing the Carlisles series of Regency-era historical romances. I was very excited about the opportunity to read this book because I enjoyed reading the first book in the series.

Six years ago, Quinn and Annabelle were discovered in a semi-compromising position. This incident proved to be her social ruination, but she has occupied herself over the subsequent years by working hard to improve the estate that she lives on. If she marries before her 25^th birthday, then the estate will be hers outright- not her husband’s.

Quinn and his brother Robert are summoned to the estate to help oversee the process of finding a suitor for Annabelle. Quinn realizes that Annabelle is just as beautiful as she was the last time he kissed her, and that this is going to be a much more difficult project than he anticipated.

There’s no denying that the chemistry between Quinn and Annabelle is real, but he can’t marry her because he is supposed to leave to start a new life in America. It’s very important for Quinn to carve his own path in life and achieve things based on his own merits and not because he is the younger son of a duke.

I appreciate angsty books, but at times, there was too much angst over issues that could easily be easily solved. Quinn doesn’t want to see Annabelle marry the highly unsuitable man from the neighboring estate, but he declines her proposal several times. And despite the fact that he refuses to marry her, he does not have any problem sharing intimate moments with her. And, for that matter, it’s highly irritating that Quinn is the one who placed Annabelle in this position in the first place, rather than stepping up and marrying her all those years ago.

I would recommend When the Scoundrel Sins. Annabelle and Quinn have great chemistry, and it’s fascinating to watch them work through their issues together. She is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her beloved estate, even if it means marrying an incompatible man. Her priority has always been the estate, despite a strong attraction to Quinn. I will conclude with this thought: the level of angst was so well done that I began to doubt whether Quinn and Annabelle would get their happily ever after at the end. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series!