Aurora Paxton hasn't been back to London since her debut season, when she caused a scandal that nearly ruined her entire family's reputation. Sequestered in the country with her eccentric Aunt Beatrice, Rory is shocked when the glamorous Lady Milford arrives from town, requesting she return to society to help her stepmother, who is being blackmailed for reasons unknown. On top of that, Rory finds out that her sister is about to marry a Duke old enough to be her father! Rory feels she owes it to her family to go back to London, figure out who is threatening her stepmother, and figure out if her sister is truly happy.

Rory arrives to London, and quickly figures out that the main suspect of the blackmail is none other than Lucas Vale, Marquess of Dashiell. Always cold and quiet around Rory, she still can't believe he would be the culprit in this scheme. Unbeknownst to Rory, Lucas has harbored feelings for her since they shared one dance during her debut season. Determined to find out why he could be blackmailing her family, Rory pretends she needs a job as a companion to his mother, the Marchioness, and Lucas feels it is his duty to help her, even though his mother is quite difficult. But, when Rory discovers that Lucas isn't the blackmailer, they decide to work together to find out who's really trying to ruin the Paxtons. Working together brings Rory and Lucas closer, and trying to deny their attraction only makes it harder to stay apart.

THE SCANDALOUS FLIRT is a cute, quick, and fun romance! This historical romance has it all--sordid secrets from the past, a dastardly blackmail scheme, and of course, two people falling in love before our eyes. I loved the little homages to fairy tales sprinkled throughout the novel; they added whimsy and magic without being over the top. The romance was a little slow to build, but once Rory and Lucas came to their senses, it was wonderful to see them recognize the other as a partner, both in solving the crime and in life. Both Aunt Beatrice and the Marchioness steal every scene they are in, adding comic relief and even some much needed advice to our hero and heroine. This is the first book in the Cinderella Sisterhood that I've read, and it stood on its own with no problem. And it most certainly will not be the last! Historical romance readers who like a mystery mixed in will enjoy THE SCANDALOUS FLIRT!