As a child, Sophie had a vivid imagination and a passion for romance. With her family home near Castle Darmead, she often visited there, absorbing all its history and stories from the staff who let her wander freely through its magnificent halls as it was seldom, if ever, visited by its owner, the Earl of Banallt - a dashing figure central to her young fanciful dreams.

Turning seventeen, Sophie thought she found real romance when she fell head over heels in love with Tommy Evans, even to the point of eloping with him to Scotland. Returning home, romance morphs into a nightmare as her family disowns her for her scandalous behaviour and her charming Tommy turned out only to be a fortune hunter intend on blazing through her money while drinking wildly and bedded every woman he could, while ignoring her.

Clutching her last lingering threads of respectability, Sophie puts up with Tommy's behaviour as best she can and even writes stories for household expenses as Tommy depletes her funds with his debauchery. She even manages to carry on, even when life hits its lowest point when Gwilym, the Earl of Banallt, arrives at her house in a drunken state late at night intend on ravishing a married woman he brought with him. Her childhood idol seems to be nothing more than a shallow libertine. Like Tommy, Banallt feels he could have any woman, but Sophie keeps him in his place with her saber sharp retorts and over time, they develop a fond, but platonic friendship.

After Tommy tragically dies and her parents had passed on, John Mercer, Sophie's brother welcomes her back to their family home at Havenwood. Sick of the scandal in her past, Sophie vows never to be touched by impropriety again. Knowing that, Mercer would never have allowed Banallt to visit her. When he finds out that Sophie knew him before and with Banallt's reputation as a rake, Mercer warns him away from visiting Sophie again. But, can Banallt leave her alone when she keeps intruding into his thoughts and leaving him dissatisfied with every other woman? Mercer also is caught in another triangle between family principles and love as he desires Fidelia Llewellyn and she loves him, while her family intends for her to marry Banallt.

Carolyn Jewel has crafted a wondrous gem of a reverse take on propriety, scandal and good intentions that leave people vulnerable. Her writing is as smooth and lustrous as silk as she weaves the unfolding of the story between the past and the present. Her characters, both principal and secondary, are well developed and one feels for them as they are not just cardboard villains and heroes, but complex characters faced with the rules of English upper society in 1814. This is one terrific read that just pulls you right into the hearts and times that you hate to put the book down till you find out what happens to Sophie and Banallt. So, get comfy and enjoy! This is one Scandal you won't want to miss!