A Rake, a Scheme, and a Scandal: To Con a Gentleman by Sarah Adams

There’s something irresistible about a Regency romance that doesn’t just play by the rules—but breaks them with charm, wit, and heart. To Con a Gentleman, the latest in Sarah Adams’ Dalton Family series, is a shining example of that magic. With a heroine who lives by her wits and a gentleman torn between suspicion and surrender, this novel brings fresh air to the traditional historical romance.

You’re in for a delightful ride if you love your love stories with clever banter, simmering tension, and secrets just waiting to explode.

Why This Book Feels So Refreshingly Modern—Even in Bonnets

While set in the decorum-bound world of Regency England, To Con a Gentleman is anything but stiff. Sarah Adams infuses her story with emotional vulnerability, bold humor, and a heroine who dares to rewrite her fate. In a genre often populated by debutantes and dukes, Adams gives us something far more unpredictable: a con artist with a heart and a gentleman who doesn’t know what hit him.

At a time when readers crave stories that explore morally grey heroines and redeemable rogues, this novel finds the perfect balance between lighthearted mischief and slow-burn emotional depth.

When a Con Goes Unexpectedly Right

The story follows Millie Dalton, a woman who’s learned that survival doesn’t come from titles or fortune, but from charm, quick thinking, and the occasional white lie. When her latest scheme lands her in the crosshairs of Lord Rafe, a man known for his wealth and wariness, she expects to deceive him and move on.

But Rafe is no fool—and Millie is no ordinary schemer.

What begins as a game of wits and wariness soon transforms into a complex dance of attraction, suspicion, and genuine connection. Rafe suspects Millie of more than one deception—but can’t help admiring her sharp mind and steel spine. And Millie? She never expected to feel anything for a mark, especially not this.

As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Millie and Rafe must each decide what’s more dangerous: trusting the other, or walking away.

Themes & Tropes: A Con Game Full of Heart

What makes To Con a Gentleman shine isn’t just the Regency setting—it’s how Adams plays with tropes we know and love while giving them deeper emotional roots. Expect:

• Grifter heroine, who’s clever, flawed, and refreshingly human
• Slow-burn romance, full of mistrust, longing, and layered intimacy
• Redemption arc, for both characters—but especially for Millie
• Gentleman hero, torn between duty and desire
• Witty banter and social tension, grounded in emotional stakes
• Found family and inner healing are subtly woven into the character arcs

What sets this apart from typical Regency romance is its emotional modernity. The characters feel real—their wounds, fears, and guarded hearts—and the tension isn’t just romantic, it’s existential: what do you do when love threatens the identity that once kept you safe?

Who Will Love This Book

This one’s for the readers who:

• Devour historical romance but want heroines with grit and agency
• Adore a cat-and-mouse dynamic with real emotional consequences
• Prefer romantic tension over insta-love
• Enjoy stories about trust, vulnerability, and redemption
• Are you a fan of Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, or Julie Klassen
• Want humor and heart in equal measure—with just a hint of scandal

Whether you’re a Regency veteran or new to the genre, Millie and Rafe’s story is the kind that lingers—smart, emotional, and oh-so-satisfying.

Final Thoughts: A Love Story That Outsmarts and Outshines

To Con a Gentleman is more than a flirtation with deceit—it’s a novel about what happens when two fiercely guarded people let down their walls and take a chance on something neither of them believed they deserved. Sarah Adams brings heart, heat, and humor to every page, creating a Regency romance that feels timeless and new.

So if you’re ready to fall for a con artist with a conscience and a gentleman with a secret soft side—this one’s waiting to steal your heart.