Love and Other Scandals
 Caroline Linden      

Genre:
Historical
Heat Level: Hot
Rating:

True Love . . .

Joan Bennet has endured four Seasons without a single suitor or serious flirtation, let alone a marriage proposal.She's had just about enough of being a respectablewallflower and is giving serious thought to embarking ona life of sin, or at least lascivious adventure like the onesdescribed in a popular scandalous book. When she meetsher brother's favorite drinking mate, Viscount Burke,it seems her hopes of adventure might be answered . . .

Is Worth a Little Scandal . . .

Tristan Burke doesn't want a wife, and one can't triflewith a friend's sister without risking marriage. Even more,Joan's the last sort of woman he would ever choose: droll,sharp-witted, and always unfashionably dressed.If only he could stop thinking about her mouth. Or whatshe might look like without those horrid clothes.Or the way he can only win an argument with her bykissing her senseless . . . even though that just makes himwant her more. But more could lead to a betrothal,which he fears—or does he?

Review

This was one I couldn’t put down…

In Linden’s newest release scandals are running rampant. Yet Joan Bennet can’t seem to avoid them, what with one of the biggest rakes in the ton sent to watch over her in her family’s absence.

Joan is not the coy little miss either. She believes in getting her way with everyone, but her mother. This headstrong girl captivated me from the start. Four seasons have passed without an offer, with wearing the latest fashions that don’t fit her figure, and without any excitement whatsoever. All that changes when her family leaves her town to be chaperoned by her father’s scandalous sister. Add in one delicious Tristan Burke, king of rakes, who can’t seem to keep his hands off her or stop making her think she’s about to be eaten and a la scandal!

Tristan has been a lord since he was in short pants. He’s used to getting everything he wants, until he meets ‘The Fury’. His best friend’s sister is the most infuriating woman he’s ever encountered, won’t let him win an argument, and gives him sensual thoughts he shouldn’t be experiencing. At first it’s revenge, a rake needs to get the last word in. Two kisses later and he’s practically wooing the one person he didn’t want anything to do with. I love Tristan. He’s definitely been through some tough struggles as a kid and those struggles are reflected in his views of women early on. Joan is the catalyst to change his opinion:

Trouble , yes; but even more dangerous than Bennet suspected. Because Tristan didn’t want to run the other way when he saw Miss Bennet, as vexing as she was. He wanted to best her, to leave her speechless; he wanted to hear her confess that she was wrong and he was right, about anything at all. And most worrisome of all, he wanted to kiss her senseless when she did so. Maybe even before. He must be cracked in the head.

What is so sweet is that this story is the natural progression of a romance that shouldn’t have happened, yet circumstances let it. The best friend’s sister trope is in full force, and I’m usually not a fan, but I enjoyed this tale. There were so many close calls and the only reason this book didn’t get a higher score is because I don’t think Joan and Tristan would have gotten away with all the intimate moments and times they had together without a few more nosy interruptions. I did love the characters, their arguments, and ultimately enjoyed the fact that Joan finally was able to grow into her own person and Tristan was able to be accepted without any expectations.

If you’re look for a fun, sweet read where a rake finds his match in the one woman he shouldn’t then this book is for you.

 If you like Julia Quinn and Maya Rodale.

Reviewed by Landra