The Suffragette Scandal

1/22/2019: reread with my reading buddies, and this book is so goddamn good. That whole reread was excellent, and I hope to do it again next year!

Original Review:
I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of not having one disappointment in a series--other than Kate Clayborn's Luck series. Still, not all of those are gushing 5 stars. For the main novels in Brothers Sinister, they are. And as I've said, don't ask me to pick.

We've had the pleasure to get to know Free for the first 3 novels, and I was so looking forward to reading this idealistic force of nature's book. And while all my confidence was in Courtney Milan, I cannot tell you how many times I doubted that her hero could shine or match her.

But I'm not a genius and Courtney Milan show more is. I expected to identify with Free. I'm an idealist from a wonderful family who's done a lot of organizing in my 20s. I, too, challenged my husband in a spirited argument from the first times we hung out. I was correct, naturally. Free was such a natural and strong character to me--wonderful blend of her parents (heart eyes to Serena and Hugo of A Governess Affair)--lovely relationships and an unapologetic warrior for her cause. I chose to read this, hoping that as we near the election here and coming off the horrible treatment of women in a public, semi-permanent way, it would feel fortifying. It seemed a lot to ask. In the end, it wasn't. It was exactly what my heart needed. So Free was not a disappointment, she was a scrappy tower of a tiny woman who I would follow, hug, and admire.

And who can live up to that? The hidden man who doesn't really think he wears his heart on his sleeve, but Free is no idiot. And if his attempt to give her a soft landing from disappointment of the impossible task of "emptying the Thames with thimbles" didn't win me over with thimbles, his loyalty to his 'brothers' did. (But spoiler alert: I didn't stop falling for him. Or her. Or them). He was hesitantly, and yet eagerly bowled over by Free. And he never seemed to misunderstand her purpose, her person, or the best way to let her be who she is.

It's been said before and I hope it'll be said again that Milan knows how to create a match. She knows how to balance her characters. Edward is easily as large in life as Free, yet doesn't diminish her. No, they make a fantastic pair, a dynamic couple that will live in my memory for a good while. And if that weren't enough, I was reminded of why I tend to fall deeper with all her characters, through all the books and that this series, for me, is profoundly perfect.

I feel like all these words have tumbled out of me, and I'm pausing to take a breath, because I haven't even started in on how fantastically done the political and historical backdrop is--and how incredibly relevant and true it still is. Again, my iPad is sick with highlights. SICK with them. I want to put some here. Maybe I will, upon reread--but I don't know what I'd chose at this point. show less

3.75 stars

I bought this book, so I don't "have" to write a review for it and thank goodness because there is no way I could. Here is the bare bones assessment: Edward the hero was amazing, he only wanted to enhance and increase Free's flame. Loved him, loved their relationship. Free is who you want to be. Her character was strong, fierce, and vulnerable; all that is woman. It slowed for me at parts as I thought certain scenes dragged for a while and it felt like the story could have ended three or so times.

This story was so much more than romance to me. With the issues affecting the women of the world today (really hitting home ones, being I live in the U.S., Hobby Lobby and abortion) I internalized so much of Free. Ultimately, this is show more what this book was all about to me,

“I started listening to what I said to her. When she was three, I told her that she couldn’t contradict the boy next door, even when she’s right, because it’s indelicate for a lady to disagree with a gentleman. I told her that she mustn’t run, because ladies never hurry. Every day, from the moment she took her first step, I’ve told her to stop: to stop thinking, to stop speaking, to stop moving about. And I didn’t know why I said any of it. Those words kept coming out of my mouth, passing through me.”
Amanda reached over and gripped her sister’s hand.
“I think that’s when I understood that you only ruined my life because my life needed ruining. Because the life you rejected demanded that I spend all my time telling my daughter to be less and my son to be more.”

This, a million times, this. Let's free our daughters.

When I read the last page I cried for my grandmother, mother, and all my women ancestors for who they never got to be, for who they repressed, and for all they have given me.

Vote ladies.
And excuse me while I go wrap myself up in my Notorious R.B.G. shirt.



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Frederica "Free" Marshall used the money she inherited from a reclusive aunt to put herself through college and establish a newspaper "by women, for women, about women". Her first story was an expose of the horrible conditions in a naval lock hospital, an asylum of sorts where they kept prostitutes suspected of venereal disease. She bravely and stubbornly continues to employ women and publish her paper, even though she receives offensive letters, abuse and death treats on a weekly basis. Recently, it's become clear that someone has access to the articles before they are published, and is making it look like the Women's Free Press is just copying from other male-run publications. Someone is determined to ruin Free's life's work.

Enter, show more Edward Clark, liar, forger, blackmailer and scoundrel extraordinaire. He offers to help Free, claiming he wants revenge on the man who's out to destroy her. What Free doesn't know is that the man who is behind the plot to discredit her and her newspaper is Edward's younger brother, and that Edward Clark was in fact born Edward Delacey, and now that his father is dead, he is actually Viscount Claridge. His brother is none to happy to see him return, as Edward's been gone for nearly seven years, just long enough to have him declared dead, so James can become the Viscount instead. Edward promises that his brother can have the title, he just wants to make sure that Stepehen Shaughnessy, his childhood friend, isn't ruined along with Miss Marshall's newspaper. Of course, Edward's father and younger brother both left him for dead in a war-torn France nine years ago, so Edward feels absolutely no loyalty or connection to them. The Shaughnessy brothers, however, his oldest friends, and Miss Marshall, who is quickly worming her way into his affections, he is willing to use all his devious and underhanded ways to help.

As Edward and Free work together to foil James Delacey's plots against her, they naturally grow closer, and Free discovers that while Edward may lie, cheat, be an expert forger and blackmailer, he's also a genuinely good man deep down, but has been mistreated by the world for the longest time, and believes himself not only incapable of love but wholly undeserving of being loved or even trusted. Of course, Edward knows that if Free ever discovered who he really is, and who his brother is, she will no longer great him with a beaming smile, but hate him forever.

I love Courtney Milan. This is no secret. I rate her book Unraveled among the best romances I've ever read. Well, that book has just been knocked off its top spot, because as far as I'm concerned, The Suffragette Scandal is her crowning achievement. As anyone who has been following my blog, or checked out my Goodreads ratings, I've never rated a Milan-book or novella lower than three stars. This book makes me want to break the ratings system, because it deserves six. All the other books of hers that I've rated five stars have little things that niggle and annoy me. This book is flawless. There is a secondary romance involving Free's best friend, Lady Amanda, the niece of Violet from The Countess Conspiracy which is so subtly and cleverly done that I was honestly wondering if I was reading too much into things to begin with, and whether my mind was creating a romance where there was none. I don't want to spoil anything, but bits involving Lady Amanda had me sobbing on a public bus because I was so moved, and I cheered out loud when the story finally reached its very satisfying conclusion.

Frederica Marshall is Oliver Marshall's little sister and in previous books in the series, she struck me as rather abrasive and annoying. Of course, that Free was an opinionated teenager. This Free is twenty-seven, college educated and tempered by the massive challenges of being a progressive woman in a society that wants women to be seen as ornaments and help meets, not heard and given equal say or footing as men. All grown up, Free Marshall is a force to be reckoned with. I wish she'd be my friend, even though she'd be a bit too outspoken and keep frustratingly thrusting herself into danger for my tastes. She's not flawless, she knows that she's bossy and opinionated, and speaking rashly without thinking can hurt the people she loves dearly. She doesn't publish her newspaper solely to convince men that they are wrong about women, she's doing it to inform and empower women.

Love is too small a word for what I feel for Edward. I'm not sure there are words in any of the languages I speak (English, Swedish, Norwegian and a smattering of German, if anyone was interested) to describe how I feel about Edward. He's so guarded, and cynical and has been beaten down so much by the world and the cruelty of men that he has trouble believing in anyone or anything. He sees the world in terms of how he can take advantage of it, and gain as much as possible for himself. Free sees the world in terms of how she can improve it for the most people and make it a better place in future. They are so different, yet both so sharp and clever and lonely. Their banter is absolutely divine. Their second meeting involves Edward trying to blackmail Free, only to have her turn around and blackmail him more successfully. Their romance is seemingly impossible, but of course they find a happy ending, and the romantic gesture from Edward at the end had me in tears, again.

This book made me laugh, and cry, and swoon, and ruined me so much for other books that instead of being able to read anything else, I just had to start re-reading this book again, only more slowly, so I could properly savour the plot, characters and writing. I don't think there's a single chapter where I haven't highlighted at least one section or quote or small dialogue exchange. I was lucky enough to get an ARC, so I could read the book four days early. That means I've now been fortunate enough to read the book twice, only a day after it's released. Courtney Milan self-publishes, so consider buying her book if you can. Otherwise, find it at your local library or just read it in a book store, and rate it honestly on all forms of social media. Get the word out if you like it. If I haven't convinced you by now that you want to read this book, you are clearly a person who doesn't like good writing. Courtney Milan is not a romance writer, she is an excellent writer who just happens to be writing in the romance genre. Please give this book a try! show less

I love this book and its mix of weight (it does not pretend institutional sexism is no big deal & also treats trauma for both main characters seriously) and optimism (in Free personally, and in her & the novel's insistence that fighting against social injustice matters even when the big fight seems--or even is--unwinnable). Also, adorable lesbian subplot, huzzah!

I probably need to acknowledge at this point that if Courtney Milan is writing it them I'm going to be reading it. It's a romance, sure, with all the lovey-doviness and faux-conflict you'll find in any romance. (Seriously, folks, it's called communication. It solves many problems.) But this particular romance is written over a time where English women were battling for the right to vote and concerns one of those women--and her women's newspaper. Free is exactly what I'd hope for as a suffragette and publisher, and Edward is so obviously smitten that he's a delight to read. (Provided by publisher)

Edward Clark hasn't been back to England in almost 7 years and if it weren't for certain lingering loose ends from his past, he wouldn't have returned. But as he works to protect one of the few people he cares about, his path crosses with that of Free Marshall. Suddenly Edward finds himself thoroughly entranced by this bold woman who continually advocates for the woman's vote despite all discouragements put in her way. As Edward wars with himself about letting someone in, Free must determine if she can handle the ghosts of Edward's scandalous past.

Huzzah! Suffragettes! I enjoyed every second of this novel and really valued it for being both a romance as well as a historical that really looks at the neverending challenges that faced the show more women who fought so hard for their right to vote. Fun but with serious undertones, this is a fitting full novel to round out the series. show less

This book is such an emotional roller coaster. Throw out everything you know about romance novels because this is now the new standard. There's romance, there's a hunky hero, there's a complex heroine whom readers can identify with. Most importantly, there's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. If you love historical romance, then you must read The Suffragette Scandal.

Edward and Frederica "Free" Marshall both shoulder their own burdens as they fight for the people they love. Free's a fearless editor of a women's periodical and flanked by two other formidable women: Alice and Amanda. Her paper is critical to women's emancipation, and she won't let anything stop her from delivering it, even when powerful foes show more threaten her and her friends' lives. Her courage pulses throughout the novel; yet, she's not a Mary Sue or a symbol. She's a flesh and blood woman with wants, desires, and fears. She feels human and distinct, which I appreciate.

At first glance, Edward seems like he'll be the prototypical brooding alpha male from scores of other romance novels. Not so! He has true depth, and his traumas are actually believably traumatic and are not what readers expect. When he says he's dangerous and has done bad things, he means it, which is why it's all the more rewarding when Free finally breaks through to him.

The supporting cast also helps bring this story to life. Amanda's growth as a person and as she comes to realize her love for her special someone. She's just as complex as Free without being as much of a firebrand. Even the villain has layers, and is one of those people it's really satisfying to detest while at the same time learning from his mistakes.

More than any other romance I've read, this book makes you feel all sorts of feelings. You despair, you're in suspense, you cheer, and you aww. It's romantic without cliches and without trying too hard. This is a must-read for any romance reader. show less