Scandalous

My original review of the audiobook was so tepid that I never re-read it; my tastes in romance have changed since then, and now this book is right up my alley!!! Plain, spinster heroine with a limp. Dashing, teasing hero with a secret, they're forced together, angst and misunderstanding and hotness ensue. This had SO MANY of the things I adore: a heroine that is a bit insecure about her plain looks (which she is frequently reminded of by others); who is embarrassed by her limp; who accepts her spinster status and focuses on launching her beautiful sister; who has nightmares from the trauma that led to her injury - an attempted rape; misunderstandings and mistrust and angst over another woman. These all set her up to be soothed and show more championed and healed and protected by the hero. I enjoyed the mystery of the hero as well. This is going down as a favorite. show less

My original review of the audiobook was so tepid that I never re-read it; my tastes in romance have changed since then, and now this book is right up my alley!!! Plain, spinster heroine with a limp. Dashing, teasing hero with a secret, they're forced together, angst and misunderstanding and hotness ensue. This had SO MANY of the things I adore: a heroine that is a bit insecure about her plain looks (which she is frequently reminded of by others); who is embarrassed by her limp; who is resigned to her spinster status and focuses on launching her beautiful sister; who has nightmares from the trauma that led to her injury - an attempted rape; misunderstandings and mistrust and angst over another woman. These all set her up to be soothed show more and championed and healed and protected by the hero. I enjoyed the mystery of the hero as well. This is going down as a favorite. (4.5 stars) show less

Lord Philip Southvale, widowed for a year following his wife's loss at sea, falls in love at first sight with Rosalind Carberry while on a diplomatic mission to America. It is mutual and they wish to marry quickly before the mission sends him back to London. Her family is skeptical of this sudden attachment and make them wait 2 months to marry. Just days before the wedding he is called back to London. Plans are made for the family to go to London in a couple of months and to have the wedding there. Of course things conspire to keep them separated and when it seems everything will need to be put off again, Rosalind decides to go anyway and leaves with her maid. However, when she reaches London, things are not as she expects and Rosalind show more has to fight to keep Philip. The story had an interesting premise that kept the action going, but the drawn out complications and the easy resolution kept it an average Regency romance. show less

Read from March 05 to 06, 2013

Listened for fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 2.50
Story Rating: 2.50
Character Rating: 2.50

Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought When Finished: I really loved the leading lady but I couldn't fall in love with the hero *sigh*

Speed Date Review

First Date: Oh Gabby you are very brave or very stupid--either way I think you and I could totally hang out with a glass of wine! We could stir up some trouble in the name of making our siblings lives better! You go girl!

Second Date: Oh Nick! I swear I see moments where I think I could like you and then you just go do something totally arrogant and overbearing. Gabby deserves better and quite frankly she should have probably shot you in the rear show more (just saying)!

Third Date: Ummm huh? That ending was just not for me! Even if I was falling a little bit for Nick that just went and blew it! Plus, hello snotty sisters alert and they are the leading ladies of the next books *sigh*

Audio Date:

Narrated by Justine Eyre /LENGTH 9 hrs and 40 mins

I would marry the audio for Scandalous! Seriously Justine Eyre did such a wonderful job with all the voices, pacing, and emotions. I will be listening to more by her!

Relationship Status: I think the series and I are not going to work out. Sometimes that happens! show less

Basically you have the Plain Jane story with a twist. Our Plain Jane is possessed of a temper and she has a bum leg. I can so relate to the Gimpy leg she has. Anyway, the story is set in 1810 and Lady Gabriella (Gabby) receives word that her half-brother, who she has only met a hand full of times, has been murdered. See, her father was kind of a nut-job and left her and her two sisters with no provisions in the will, so everything passed over to her Half-Brother Lord Wickham. Gabby wanted to do a come out for her sister Claire so that she could find a match (yay, 1800's London!), but since her brother died everything would go over to her much to be desired cousin and his witch of a wife. So Gabby did the only thing she thought she could show more do. She pretended her brother was still alive and set about arranging Claire's come out.

This is where things go horribly wrong for Gabby. When she and her sisters arrive in London to the home their deceased brother owns, they find that he is in residence. Wait. You are totally going, but Casey, you said he was dead! He IS! That is the weird part, there is this man that says he is Wickham and Gabby is the only one who knows he is definitely NOT. Soon London is watching the pair fall in love and the scandal rocks the old biddies down to their pinafores. I mean come-on they think that the two are brother and sister and are carrying on like an illicit affair (which they are but seriously they AREN'T related, but in public they have to appear to be). Well you got to read this one, I thought it was exceptionally good. Any book that contains, love, illicit romances, scandal, spies (yes there are SPIES!) and 1800's London is always fun. show less

While it may not be perfect (sometimes the historical perspective just doesn't ring true), this is a fun read and proves that Robards is at the top of her form. I really liked the two major characters; they are not cookie cutter romance figures. This is a keeper

I really enjoyed Scandalous by Karen Robards. The writing was excellent, loved the hero and heroine, the plot was good and moved along and a nice ending. It wasn't quite a 5 for me, but close!