Marriage Most Scandalous

Another keeper. A great example of why I love Johanna Lindsey's writing so much. I read it from cover to cover - couldn't put it down ( )

The book contains potentially interesting setups, that constantly go nowhere. The hero and heroine's reason for the charade seems forced, and neither of them is all that interesting a character. And when what is actually going on is revealed, it's a huge let down. ( )

Since romance novels are escapist reading, their formulaic structure doesn't bother me. Lindsey's are well written around characters that I can like. This one added a twist to the end that was a complete surprise and made me move this book to my "read again" stack. ( )

Lady Margaret Landor travels the continent in search of ,Sebastian Townshend, who has been disowned and exiled by his father after he kills his best friend in a duel which his father espressly ordered him not to participate in.
Margaret wants to hire the " Raven" to locate Townshend as his reputation is that he never fails. To her upmost surprise Townshend answers the Raven's door, and she coerces him to return to England with her as she feels his father is in mortal danger have suffered many accidents of late.
The first stumbling block to Raven's investigation is gaining access to his father's mansion, they devise a scheme whereby they pretend to be married as his father would accept Margaret's husband into his home assuredly.

The story lags as this quasi investigation of these incidents procedes. The brother and sister-in-law are immediately under suspision as the brother may not want to wait for years to inherit the title. The SIL is a devious harlot who hates her husband and only wants money and a title to be legtimate.
During this process, Margaret begins to have some feelings for the Raven who only appears to be interested in having sex with her.
the dialogue between Margaret and the Raven does't allow one to get a richer or deeper understanding of their passion, it remains surface. The ending is rather convoluted but ties up all the lose ends

This is not one of Johanna Lindsey's best works. I would not read it again. I kept expecting it to improve and it never did. ( )

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