IT TAKES A SCANDAL is another wonderful historical romance by Caroline Linden. The story opens with two sisters -- Abigail and Penelope Weston. Their family is nouveau riche and their father has recently bought a stately home in the country. I was worried, at first, that Abby and Penelope would fall into a pattern of Abby always being the sensible good daughter, and Penelope would always be the wild one. Happily I found them to be equally more complex than that. While Abby is better at controlling her impulses than her sister, she is still a passionate young woman who speaks her mind. Likewise, while Penelope might be tactless at times, she is just as intelligent as her sister and not entirely selfish. I enjoyed the relationship between the sisters as depicted in IT TAKES A SCANDAL and look forward to reading Penelope's story.
I love the romance between Abby and Sebastian Vane. They first meet while Abby is looking for her mother's mischievous dog Milo. Sebastian's property borders her family's property. There is a strong mutual attraction right away. One of the things I thought was so great about Abby is how she expresses her true feelings to Simon without throwing herself at him and looking ridiculous. One of my favorite scenes is when Simon encounters her on the arm of a rival of his. He sulks a bit before she very appropriately puts him in his place. She realizes how it might look to him, but she refuses to be punished for his false assumptions. In spite of a bit of occasional moodiness, due to his unfair circumstances, Simon is never nasty to Abby and very romantic. He turns into a poet when he's around her. They have some very emotional and very steamy scenes together.
There are a few gothic touches here and there, which I enjoyed. Simon's situation can't help but elicit sympathy. He's an injured war hero returning to a father whom everyone regards as mad, and an estate which has been greatly diminished by his father's actions. I thought the element of mystery provided by the missing money and Simon's missing father adds a lot of interest to IT TAKES A SCANDAL. For me, the grotto was almost like an additional character. It is a romantic meeting place for Simon and Abby, it was a thing of legend for Simon and Benedict as boys, and in some ways it mirrors Simon himself. Like Simon, it is a forgotten treasure, hidden for years from most people's eyes due to neglect and disuse. I think Caroline Linden did a great job of creating a sense of place in IT TAKES A SCANDAL.
I loved this engaging and romantic historical romance! IT TAKES A SCANDAL has complex characters and a fabulous story with a little mystery thrown into the romance. I look forward to reading about other characters in future stories like Penelope, Benedict, and Samantha. If Penelope and Benedict are paired up, I think she would be the kind of intelligent, sassy woman he needs.
Sometimes It Takes a Scandal . . .
Abigail Weston has everything: beauty, wit, and one of the
largest dowries in England. Her parents hope she'll wed an
earl. Abigail hopes for a man who wants her desperately and
passionately. But the money seems to blind every man she
meetsβexcept one.
Sebastian Vane has nothing. He came home from war with a
shattered leg to find his father mad and his inheritance
gone. He's not a fit suitor for anyone, let alone an
heiress. But Abigail lights up his world like a comet,
bright and beautiful and able to see him instead of his
ruined reputation. And it might end happily ever after . . .
To Reveal Your Heart's Desire
. . . Until Benedict Lennox begins courting Abigail. Ben is
everything Sebastian isn'tβwealthy, charming, heir to an
earl. Sebastian won't give up the only girl he's ever loved
without a fight, but Abigail must choose between the
penniless gentleman who moves her heart, and the suitor who
is everything her parents want.
βYes,β he said at last. βYou are correct. I do want to run
the other way when I see you.β
βWhy?β She hurried to keep up as he walked on, more briskly
than before. βWhat have I done?β
βAbsolutely nothing,β he said, adding under his breath, βand
I pray it stays that way.β
βThen what ought I to do?β They were making good progress
down the road. She had run out without a shawl or a bonnet,
and had to squint against the sun when she looked up at him.
βAbsolutely nothing,β he repeated. βFor your own sake.β
βBut if Iβve been doing nothing and it disgusts you, it
makes no sense that I continue doing nothing.β
He paused. βYou donβt disgust me.β He pointed past her with
his cane. βThere is the path to my home. Pardon me, Miss
Weston.β
She let him pass, but kept dogging his heels, dragging poor
Milo in her wake. βIf I donβt disgust you, why wonβt you
speak to me? There was only that one moment, when you told
me about the lost grotto, when I felt we were cordial.β
He heaved a soundless sigh. βIβm speaking to you now, arenβt
I?β
βWithout saying anything,β she grumbled. βWe are neighbors,
sir. Surely we can have an amiable relationship.β
With unexpected speed and grace he whirled on her. Abigail
nearly tripped as she leapt back once, then again until her
back hit a tree as he stalked toward her. He loomed over
her, so close she could see the lines around his eyes, but
not so close he was touching her. βAmiable,β he whispered.
βWe will never be amiable.β
βWhy n-not?β she stammered. Her heart was beating a tattoo
inside her chest.
He smiled, but there was nothing light about it. It was a
black and bitter expression, and the sight made her eyes
grow wide. βBecause I am a wicked man, Miss Weston. Donβt
you listen to the gossip? Madness runs in my family. My
estate is utterly ruined. People call me a thief. They even
say I killed my father. Ask anyone in town, and theyβll warn
you to stay far, far away from me. To a beautiful, innocent
young woman, I might as well be the devil incarnate.β
βDid you kill your father?β As soon as the words left her
mouth, Abigail wished them back.
βWhat do you think?β he asked in the same soft, dangerous
tone.
She frowned. βI doubt it.β
βBut you donβt know. That should warn you to run away.β
She stared at him. βYou intrigue me.β
He leaned closer. In confusion she closed her eyes. βAnd you
intrigue me,β he replied, his breath stirring the hair at
her temple. βThatβs why I avoid you.β
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