Lady Ciara Sheffield has enough problems to deal with without adding to them, but she may not have a choice. Her predilection for scientific discovery and the untimely death of her husband has given rise to numerous rumors that she is responsible for his demise. She knows that there is no merit to the lies, but an ugly attempt by her husband's family to gain custody of her son and his fortune. Her friends, who call themselves the Circle of Sin, suggest that she needs a fiancé to afford her some protection, preferably one with a lofty title. When the Earl of Hadley comes calling for a favor, Ciara wants nothing to do with him, as he is a notorious rake whose name is constantly in the gossip columns. However, they come to an agreement, and Ciara hopes that she has not made a deal with the devil. Will his position offer her and her son the protection they need? Or will she fall into a more compromising position with him at her side?

Lord Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley, has never seen the need to deny himself any pleasure. His scandalous exploits have been fodder for the gossip columns too many times to count. However, he does have a little known responsible side and that is reserved for his uncle. When his uncle asks him to deliver a manuscript to Lady Sheffield to decipher, he never thought that she would refuse to see him. He likes a challenge and she is a fascinating obstacle. With a little scheming, he maneuvers himself into the role of her soon to be fiancé. Their arrangement is simple. He provides her a bit of protection from the outrageous speculation, and he has the manuscript decoded and translated. He did not think that he would fall under her spell or that she would refuse his attempts at seduction. Is the reprehensible rake ready for a respectable relationship? Has he uncovered a hidden desire that needs to be sated?

Cara Elliott dazzles with this brilliantly mischievous debut. Her characters shine with their own passion either for the next scientific endeavor or the next salacious encounter. Ciara lives and breathes for learning, and as a mother she knows that she must shelter her son. Lucas lives and breathes for seduction, and as a nefarious rogue he never really considers the consequences. Ciara and Lucas are a volatile mixture that could combust at any moment. Ms. Elliott brings a freshly unique style to the historical romance genre. TO SIN WITH A SCOUNDREL ushers us on a wildly entertaining journey as the scientist and the scoundrel match wits and innuendos. This is a fabulous read, and I am greatly intrigued to see what Ms. Elliott proposes next.