Known rake, Lord Townsend Elliot Lidsaw, Viscount Everod wants revenge against his father, stepmother, Georgette, and Georgette's niece Maura Keighly. The reason is, because at the age of fifteen Everod was almost killed by his father who came close to slashing his throat. Everod was tattled on by his new stepmother's ten year old niece who found Everod and her aunt being intimate in the gardens. Everod, being only fifteen at the time, couldn't stop his new stepmother, the Countess Georgette Worthington from seducing him. Her niece, Maura, found them and went to Everod's father who attacked and disowned his heir.

Twelve years have gone by and the rage festers deeply inside Everod. He finds outs that Maura is visiting London and will seduce her so she will be ruined and her downfall will be an embarrassment to Georgette and his father. Maura may be a virginal miss after all, but she is not naïve. She is very careful how she acts, especially around her aunt Georgette. Maura has continual guilt for what happened to Everod, but she is torn because her aunt has done such wonderful things for her such as giving her a loving home and being very supportive. But Maura knows there is a very different side to Georgette.

Everod becomes reacquainted with Maura and starts a very interesting courtship. Even though Maura has a good idea why Everod has gone out of his way to be with her, there is something about Everod that he keeps hidden from everyone. Maura is able to break down Everod's defenses and shows him she is not in any way like her aunt. The turning point in their relationship is when he begs Maura to call him his first name. From that point on, these adversaries not only become lovers but they are also slowly falling in love. Everod's revenge he had planned for Maura is now a distant memory.

SCANDALOUS BY NIGHT is a bit on the naughty side mainly because of the characteristics of Everod and the hot and sexy lovemaking he and Maura give each other. I found Georgette to be a well rounded villain and a woman I wouldn't want to mess with. She almost got away with the damage she was responsible for, but as most characters of her like, she gets what's coming to her. Some may be a bit disappointed in the ending because it did seem a bit rushed, but by that point I loved how Everod and Maura were together. I wanted their happiness.

Barbara Pierce's historical romances are very enjoyable and luscious with heroes that tend to be a bit underhanded and loose when it comes to sex. But as always, by the end, the heroine has helped paved the way for her man to be reformed and that is one journey I recommend you give a try with SCANDALOUS BY NIGHT.