On the Ropes of Scandal

When entering into a fight with scandal, it's best to roll with the punches fate brings.

Mr. Duncan Stapleton, Lord Frampton, adores the time he spends in the boxing ring as much as he does being a rake in London. He has a natural talent for boxing, and with each illegal bout, his confidence grows. Though the sport is wildly dangerous and ultimately took his father's life, it's the only thing he wishes to do and it's a fat lot better than going into the church as his mother recently suggested... until a powerful jab to the head relieves him of his memories and he's left wandering Cranleigh one early October evening.

Miss Phoebe Bidwell is tired of grieving. With most of her family dead, she takes refuge in her aunt's small Surrey bakery, but those skills in creating confections don't prepare her when the handsome man she watched box stumbles into her doorway on the street with no idea of who he is or where he came from. Deciding a string of little white lies is acceptable in order to have a bit of happiness for herself, she settles into sin with him.

The autumn days fly, but when Duncan's brothers descend upon the bakery and tear apart the fake marriage story, they demand a surcease to the blatant scandal. Afterward, Phoebe and her pretend husband remove to London. Just as his memories slowly come back, they are forced to wed for real, and life shifts. He wants a return to his rakish life, and she's a fish out of water in the ton, but when two fighters are against the ropes, they'll either need to come out swinging or declare defeat, especially when the prize is love.

Only they can decide which way to go.

Tropes/themes you'll love:

✅ Amnesia

✅ Fake Marriage / Marriage of Convenience

✅ Rake Redemption

✅ Working-Class Heroine

✅ Found Family / Healing Through Love

✅ Opposites Attract

✅ Fish Out of Water (heroine in the ton)

✅ Scandal and Society Gossip

✅ Boxer Hero / Illicit Sport

✅ Forced Proximity

✅ Slow Burn with Steam