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Andrea Pickens
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A Diamond In The Rough (Dangerous Liaisons Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Andrea Pickens (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 431 ratings
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Viscount Marquand has seen how dangerous wild passions can be. Determined not to follow in the footsteps of his weak-willed wastrel father, Adrian has designed a life for himself based on order and reason . . . and a passion for creating the most beautiful gardens in England. However, as a gentleman isn’t allowed to soil his hands with running a business, he must keep his true identity as England’s most acclaimed landscape designer a secret. But when his father gambles away Adrian’s beloved ancestral estate, he’s sure all is lost . . . until he’s offered a way to win it back.

But it won’t be easy. First, he must travel to Scotland . . .

Adrian isn’t the only one keeping secrets. Derrien McClellan, a fiery, unconventional Scottish lass must disguise herself as a boy to play golf on the hallowed course at St. Andrews. She’s the best golfer by far . . . which is why a dear family friend asks her help in teaching Adrian how to play so he can beat an unprincipled cad at his own game and win back Woolsey Hall. Derrien has good reason to dislike an English lord, but she grudgingly agrees.

And so the games begin! Secrets tangle with misunderstandings as the mismatched pair struggle to work together. Things turn even more complicated when Adrian’s prim and proper fiancée arrives . . . and take another twist when Derrien discovers that Adrian shares her passion for garden design. Suddenly the stakes are higher as they head into the final match . . . with their hearts now in play, will Love conquer all?
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  1. Print length
    243 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    September 24, 2017
  5. File size
    1322 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075WRPC2W
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1322 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 243 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 431 ratings

About the author

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Andrea Pickens

Andrea Pickens

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I started creating books at the age of five, or so my mother tells me. And she has the proof--a neatly penciled story, the pages lavishly illustrated with full color crayon drawings of horses and bound with staples--to back up her claim. I have since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England (clearly I have a thing for Men In Boots!) a time and place that has captured my imagination ever since I opened the covers of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."

I have a BA and an MFA in Graphic Design from Yale University, where I studied book design (As you see, I've always had a left brain-right brain love affair with art and the printed word.) These days, when I'm not tethered to my keyboard I enjoy traveling to interesting destinations around the world--however, my favorite spot is London, where the esoteric museums, funky antique markets and used book stores offer a wealth of inspiration for my stories.

(p.s. I also write Regency-set mysteries as Andrea Penrose, and historical romances, which are sexier than these traditional Regencies, as Cara Elliott.)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
431 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Margaret Watkins
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting background to the origins of golf.
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily reviewed this book. This is my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite a number of small typos - "though" instead of "thought" etc. The story started off slowly, but as it gathered momentum, it pulled me in. There were stories within stories, but the main characters were interesting and although seemingly very different, were in fact very much alike. Adrian, Viscount Marquand was attempting to salvage the mess his parents had made of their lives, which resulted in him being in Scotland learning to play golf in order to win back his inheritance. Derrien on the other hand, had preconceived ideas about English Lords and lumped them all together in one big barrel labelled rakes, gamblers, womanisers etc. However, as she had agreed to assist Adrian in learning to play golf, she finds that all is not as she first supposed. They found they had a common interest in designing gardens, and this mutual interest spiked their romantic feelings for each other.

This was a an enjoyable read, and I found the history lesson on golf interesting as well.
4 people found this helpful
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Karen Talley
4.0 out of 5 stars Learned a bit of the history of golf.
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book started out so slowly that I was afraid that it would be one that I would not finish. Fortunately, once the hero arrived in Scotland, it picked up nicely. I really did like the idea that the heroine had to disguise herself as a boy to play golf. The detailed golf lessons were a bit boring, but apparently the author has done quite a bit of research on early golf as they feel authentic. The hero is likeable and I did find it admirable that he was 'engaged in trade,' albeit secretly. The attraction between the hero and heroine (although completely chaste) was apparent and well done. The one thing that really bugged me the whole time that I was reading was the question of WHY the villain was so intent on ruining the hero's father. There was never any explanation for it at all. I kept waiting for the announcement that he had been in love with the hero's mother or some such thing. But....nothing. The author really did drop the ball on that. But, it was still a good read and I enjoyed it.

For those interested : No rough language and no sexual situations.
3 people found this helpful
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TBreakiron
5.0 out of 5 stars A high stakes golf game
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2015
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Adrian has plans for his life including marriage to Honoria. But then his father gambles away the estate to Hertford. Adrian has to play a game of golf against Hertford and win or the estate is gone. He has no choice but to go up to Scotland and learn the game. Not just learn the game but learn it enough but to win, quite a Herculean task. Derry is asked to help train the man at learning golf. She is sure the man is foolish and spoiled and made a stupid wager. What happens when she finds out that isn't true. And will some of what Adrian really wants change? This was a really good historical romance set where the game of golf was born and it was a well written and entertaining tale. And it is a perfect romance novel for those readers turned off by lots of sec scenes.
One person found this helpful
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Texanne
3.0 out of 5 stars ROMANCE AND GOLF CREATE AN INTERESTING PREMISE
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2015
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Adrian is a very tightly wound son of parents who have ruined their lives by making poor decisions. Adrian is a landscape architect who keeps his profession a secret because he would lose even more of the family reputation with the ton if it were known he is in trade. Now his father has made a bet on a game of golf and the winner will get the family home. The man who lured his father into this bet is a gambler who wants to ruin the family.

And the person playing the game of golf at St Andrews in Scotland, will be Adrian. Adrian has never played golf in his life.

At the same time he finds himself in this position, he has just become engaged to Honoria. A most beautiful young lady, but so reserved that it appears she has no feelings at all.

When Adrian arrives in St Andrews to learn the game of golf, his is assigned a caddy Derrie, who dislikes him and knows he must be a dissolute gambler to have put his family home in such jeopardy. The caddy is actually a young lady in disguise. She is a very adept and knowledgeable golfer.

The plot is based on a good idea and the conversations between Adrian and Derrie are entertaining. The premise of having to learn golf within one month and having his teacher be a young woman makes the plot immediately entertaining.

The characters are interesting people and as time passes the sharing of interests and learning to enjoy the game of golf are developments which allow the reader to get to know both Adrian and Derrie better. There are secondary characters who add to the fabric of the story and introduce an unexpected direction to the plot.

If you enjoy a romance with an interesting and unusual plot device, you will enjoy this book.
3 people found this helpful
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Sharyn McQuaid
4.0 out of 5 stars Cute story marred by poor editing
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2019
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The story premise was novel and would have earned a 5 but the poor editing was too extensive not to affect the rating. So many articles, conjunctions and prepositions were left out or misplaced that it is difficult to believe that there was any editing done before this went online. Then there was the egregious counting error during the match between Adrian and Hertford. Pickens says they are tied 2 holes each with 2 ties, and then says they are on the 6th hole. They would be on the 7th hole with 6 holes complete. It was still a fun, light read that gave all the good guys a happy ending and the bad guys cursing while twirling their moustaches. In twenty years since it was written, I'm surprised the errors haven't been addressed.
One person found this helpful
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Debra
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2015
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This was a fun book to read. However, the book needs to be edited. A lot of typo mistakes, but with that said it did not distract me enough not to enjoy the book. Great characters that made me laugh. It was a nice change from the average historical fiction I have read. I highly recommend the book.
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Top reviews from other countries

Meena Mangalathil
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in India on June 10, 2015
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Very good read
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Linda Gilmore
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from the 'pen' of Andrea Pickins
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2015
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Another great book from the 'pen' of Andrea Pickins. I highly recommend it and have just purchased book two and three in the series and cant wait to read them as well.
One person found this helpful
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Tessa
4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a diamond in the rough!
Reviewed in Australia on July 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
I was given this book by ereader discovery in return for a fair review.
Despite there being a number of copy editing errors the story wasn't really spoilt.
Adrian Laundry, a Viscount and heir to an Earl, has to save the family home from being lost to Lord Hertford. Unfortunately, Adrian's father, the Earl of Chittenden, is a gamester and has lost so much to Hertford that the only thing of value that he had left to wager was the family home.
Adrian has tried his whole life to stop his father from gambling, with no success. He knows he has failed and tries to plan his own life to his own standards, this includes his becoming an architect and his marriage.
Well, as the Scottish bard said; the best laid plans of mice and men gang oft astray!
The wager depends on who wins a golf game at St Andrews golf club in Scotland.
The story is up to Ms Picken's standards and is very enjoyable.
This book is recommended to all ages of romance readers.
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Very sweet romance
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
An unusual story with 4 main characters and a great deal of information about golf into the bargain, different but enjoyable.
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CaroR
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story, spoilt by poor editing
Reviewed in Australia on December 26, 2014
Verified Purchase
Good story, spoilt by poor editing. Would have rated it higher if this problem was remedied. Great insight into the early traditions of a popular game, complemented by a sweet romance.
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