Love and Other Scandals

*This review is of an ARC provided by the Amazon Vine Program in exchange for an honest review

Really enjoyed this book; the main characters are immensely likable and relatable, there are some wonderful supporting characters, and the exchanges between the hero and heroine are very well-written, definitely charged, and often left me smiling or laughing. Would recommend and possibly read again!

OUR HEROINE: Joan
- 24 years old
- has one older brother and two living parents, all who feature in the book
- never had any romantic relationship to speak of
- tall and curvy, which is not "in vogue" at the time and makes the current fashions look horrible on her
- opinionated, strong-willed, quick-witted, and definitely wants to be independent, but is a dutiful sister and daughter and doesn't want to stray too far from what is expected
- very likable overall

OUR HERO: Tristan
- 28 years old
- no siblings, parents are dead, not at all close to his living family members (quite the opposite)
- is quite the rake/rogue and has a scandalous reputation - we're told this over and over again and it's a big element in the story development, but frankly we don't see that much of it (we only ever encounter 1 ex-lover of his)
- definitely has a devil-may-care attitude and isn't bothered by his reputation, though I wouldn't say he revels in it
- feels very alone because he doesn't have a loving family and his parents died when he was very young
- gorgeous, of course (aren't they almost always? if I were a man, I would consider my favorite genre quite sexist and to have a huge double standard)

THE RELATIONSHIP:
I adored the banter between Joan and Tristan; there were some laugh-out-loud exchanges, others where you're just grinning ear to ear, and some very sweet and heart-melting moments as well. I thought the development was quite good - at least on his part; no sudden lust or love. Joan more instantly is attracted to him, but I guess I can't really fault her for that since he is supposed to be so good looking. While there was definitely sizzling chemistry (one absolutely delicious kissing scene comes to mind), you also clearly see the growing mutual respect and admiration between them.

PROS:
- no big misunderstandings
- no HUGE plot contrivances
- no subplots (not necessarily a pro in itself, but when they're bad they can really bring down a book)
- great supporting characters - specifically ADORE Evangeline, Joan's aunt; Joan's parents are also great and very well rounded out - not perfect, but clearly love their children and want what's best for them

CONS:
- the book felt really short; this happens a lot for me - for some reason, books by authors like Mary Balogh seem so much longer, giving the characters and relationships so much more time to develop and thus feeling way more satisfactory. This author is more on the Julia Quinn side, with the story being simpler and more straightforward - not a bad thing necessarily, but in some ways there felt to be a little something extra missing ... it was all just a bit TOO easy

SOME OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
- "... But most appalling of all was the profusion of ringlets curled at her temples. In the dim moonlight, it looked like she had a bunch of grapes at each temple. 'Have you something against flattering fashion?' he asked. Her eyes all but ignited. 'This is very fashionable!' 'But not flattering on you,' he said bluntly. 'Even a darker shade of blue would be better. You look like you're wearing a half-opened umbrella.'
- "He 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."
- "' ... He arranged a balloon expedition, just to impress you. He asked you to dance—he even argued for your acquiescence. I’ve heard enough gossip to know he’s not regularly out in decent society, and certainly not to dance with unmarried young ladies. Even if you wish to blame all that on your brother,' Evangeline said as she pursed her lips, 'I’m quite certain Douglas never told him to look at you as if you were a fascinating riddle he can’t stop thinking about and longs to solve.'"

I'm not sure where the back cover blurb came from, because it sure didn't come from the book. Our heroine is a very proper young woman – not always happy about it, but very proper, except for occasionally reading salacious stories behind her mother's back. The only adventure she seeks out is visiting an unapproved bookstore behind her mother's back to find the next edition of a naughty serial story.

Joan Bennet has been unable to attract suitors due to her excessive height and overly buxom build, which looks hideous in the fussy, frilly fashions of the day. She also has a rather subversive sense of humor and strong opinions and finds boring men, well, boring, which has turned her into a wallflower. She finally starts dressing in a way to flatter her Junoesque figure, but it requires abandoning fashionable clothing in favor of styles that take her figure into account. While this attracts our hero (who had earlier been put off by her looking like "a half-opened umbrella" in layered petticoats and frothing falls of lace), it is looked on as rather odd by even Joan's closest friends. It is refreshing that the author manages to avoid the temptation to instantly turn Joan into a raving beauty just by changing her style. Instead, she is still a very tall, buxom young woman of moderately pretty face, and Tristan's growing attraction to her, once she stops hiding behind hideous clothes, makes her increasingly gorgeous to him, which is as it should be.

Tristan Burke is Joan's older brother's best friend, an orphan raised by a disapproving and unloving uncle and aunt, and consequently more than a little bit of a bad boy. Sparks fly from the moment they meet, when Joan visits her brother Duncan's house to browbeat him into attending a ball for their mother; Tristan is staying with her brother while his house is being repaired. A shirtless Tristan opens the door to Joan's pounding, and once she gets over her shock that men have nipples (a fact she had not really considered before), they have a wonderful exchange that sets the tone for the whole book.

"What?" the man growled again. "Are you trying to wake the dead?"

She considered it. "Perhaps. But if he is dead, I have to kick his body personally to be sure. My mother will insist."

A variety of odd expressions flickered across his face. Shock, amusement, and finally comprehension. "You're looking for Bennet."

"Indeed I am." He was standing in her brother's doorway, wearing only a pair of half-buttoned trousers that threatened to slide down his lean hips at any moment. How very intriguing. "Do ladies come by every day, asking to kick Douglas?"

He glanced behind him into the house. "Not every day, no."

(If you enjoyed that exchange, you'll enjoy the book, I promise.)

When she finally finds Duncan sleeping off a drunk in his room, the interaction between brother and sister is spot on, and hysterically funny. Joan knows just what to do to make a hungover Duncan desperate to get rid of her by agreeing to their mother's demands, and she does it with gusto. Tristan makes an interested and irritating third to their discussion, and does NOT instantly fall in love, or even like or lust, with our heroine, whom he likens to a Fury. I hate when H&h instantaneously fall into irresistible attraction for no obvious reason; but here, blessedly, the sparks are not immediately sexual in nature, but truly irritants. The attraction is allowed to grow underneath the very real squabbling between H&h, which is due largely to Tristan's inability to stop teasing Joan just to get a reaction out of her, or to stop goading her about dressing so unattractively. (It should be noted here that while Tristan is somewhat unpolished in his interactions, he is never cruel or mean. This is not a jerk H.) The sexual tension grows gradually and naturally on both of them.

The only not-quite-true note in the book is when Joan's father, mother, and brother all must leave town unexpectedly, in a slightly forced maneuver that could have been worked more graciously; but it is not enough of a fault to slow down the fun. Joan is left in care of her aunt, whose chaperonage is far less strict than Joan's mother; and Duncan asks Tristan to look in on his sister occasionally, to make sure she isn't getting into trouble, and thereby kicks off the events that lead to his own confusion when he is called back to town to attend the wedding.

Love and Other Scandals is very much a character-driven story with enough reasonable plot to bring the characters together repeatedly in order to have an attraction grow, albeit very reluctantly at first. The characters are strongly written, consistent, and very distinct. While it is not an action or adventure story by any means, I found the pacing brisk, the interactions captivating and extremely amusing, and the book hard to put down, even on a second read.

This story is filled with stereotyped characters, plots, phrases, etc. He's an avowed "rake" who will never reform. She's the spinster who appeals to no man: too heavy, too outspoken. And she has red hair.

Each meeting they have feels contrived and fake. Read about half the book and just couldn't finish it.

This story is filled with stereotyped characters, plots, phrases, etc. He's an avowed "rake" who will never reform. She's the spinster who appeals to no man: too heavy, too outspoken. And she has red hair.

Each meeting they have feels contrived and fake. Read about half the book and just couldn't finish it.

LOVE AND OTHER SCANDALS by Caroline Linden is an exciting Regency Historical Romance set in 1827 London. The beginning of a new series, and what a beginning. This is Joan Bennett and Viscount Tristan Burke's story. Tristan is a bit of a gadget man, and does seem to have a few qualms about teaching his best friend and drinking buddy's sister, Joan about passion. Joan no longer wants proper but seduction and passion after four Seasons on the marriage mart with no suitors or marriage offers she wants a little sin. Well not only can embarking on a little sin be improper it can cause a bit of scandal as well. Tristan doesn't want a wife but a few passionate kisses could just change his mind. Fast paced and filled with passion, a little sin and lots of scandal. A betrothal could be just around the corner for both of these two young adventurers. A light-hearted story with a sensuous tone. An enjoyable read. Ms. Linden is a wonderful storyteller! Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Love and Other Scandals by Caroline Linden
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Joan Bennet is tired of being a wallflower. Thanks to some deliciously scandalous--and infamous--stories, she has a pretty good idea of what she's missing as a spinster. Is even a short flirtation too much to ask for?

Tristan, Lord Burke, recognizes Joan at once for what she is: trouble. Not only is she his best friend's sister, she always seems to catch him at a disadvantage. The only way he can win an argument is by kissing her senseless. He'd give anything to get her out of her unflattering gowns. But either one of those could cost him his bachelor status, which would be dreadful--wouldn't it?

What I Liked:

Oh, guys, I loved this book so much! I needed something amazing after the last book I read, and historical romance books are always my go-to read because they always end well and have great stories (for the most part). This one was exceptionally great! I don't even know why I liked this one so much - I just did!

Joan is never noticed by anyone. She is getting older, and doesn't have any marriage proposals. She wants romance and love and a good husband - but no one will have her.

Tristan isn't looking for any of those things, but his best friend's sister has his attention. When she barges in to Douglas's home, without a care for either man's appearance, his interest in her is piqued. They meet again at the ball, where she walks in on him and another woman in a compromising position.

I love Joan and Tristan's relationship! They are like magnets, that can't keep away from each other, and yet, they are always fighting and bickering. Joan doesn't care what she says, because no one will have her, and Tristan doesn't deserve nice words from her. Tristan just wants her to stop talking all the time, and kissing her seems to do the trick. Except, it does other things too...

Joan and Tristan really get to know each other when Douglas heads out of town to check out family properties, leaving Tristan in charge of his house, and Joan. Joan and Douglas's parents leave town, because their mother gets sick, and so their aunt comes to stay with them. The aunt lets Joan and Tristan meet and go out - one particular event that Joan liked was ballooning!

I love Joan's aunt, because she helps Joan find her stride, especially in fashion! Tristan kept telling Joan how her dresses and hairstyles didn't suit her, and Joan would get angry with him. But Joan's aunt lets her explore her own style of dress and hair, while her mother is not there to stop her.

But back to Tristan and Joan. I love the two of them together! They are adorable and mean to each other and by the end of the book, they really care for each other. It takes a bit of convincing on Joan's parents' end, but Tristan and Joan get their happy ending.

What I Did Not Like:

There wasn't much that I didn't like! I just wasn't AS wow-ed by the middle of the book as I was with the beginning and the end. The beginning of the book started really strong, and I was totally sucked in. The middle of the book lagged a bit, though I loved all the interactions between Joan and Tristan. The ending was superb, and I loved it.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes! If you're a historical romance lover, add this one to your TBR list! Lucky for you, it's out in the world! So, get to it! You don't want to miss this one.

Rating:

4 stars. I'm so glad I got to read and review this book! Hopefully anyone who reads this review and then reads the book enjoys it as well!

I waited impatiently for this book to be released, only to be disappointed. This hardly seemed like the same author. Not that there is anything horribly wrong with the book, but then nothing right either. Not much of a plot, young girl wants experienced rake. That's basically it. Not much more going on. Some of the scenes just seemed like space fillers and the characters introduced just wandered through the book.

Sorry, I wanted to like it, but it was just an, ok, slow read.

Still, I will buy the next Caroline Linden book hoping she is back in form.

5 stars
Okay so this book is a guilty pleasure of mine I love the falling in love with your siblings best friend or your best friends sibling troupe, and this has it in Spades.
Joan Bennet is a wallflower of the first water. She never dances and all the current fashions look hideous on her. Tristan Burke is a Rake of the first water and her brother’s best friend.
She hates him and he thinks she’s a Fury. They spare at each other and he starts to think of her even though he doesn’t want to. Then Douglas Bennet forces him to squire Joan around town well Douglas and their parents are out and Joan gets a makeover and oh my all bets are off. The chemistry sizzles from page one and the whole cast of characters just adds to the book. Not a wrong turn in this book.
For anyone that loves the Bridgerton series this book reminds me of that in the mystery of who lady Constance the author of 50 ways to Sin is.
This is the first in a series and I’d gladly read the other’s though I currently only have numbers 1 and three.

3.5 Stars!

Love and Other Scandals was a delightful romance that takes a more direct route than most romance novels these days which was a nice change of pace that I really enjoyed.

Joan Bennet is a confirmed wallflower and practically a spinster at age twenty four. Unfortunately she doesn’t look like most girls of the ton, so none of that is likely to change and after reading Fifty Ways to Sin, a shocking and scandalous publication, Joan has an idea of what she’s missing out on. When she encounters her brother’s best friend Viscount Tristan Burke, the two end up at odds and Joan is shocked when Tristan kisses her to end an argument. Joan and Tristan find themselves continuously drawn to one another and soon realize they may be heading down a path neither expected.

Joan has spent her entire life being the dutiful daughter which in part stems from her reluctance to stand up to her mother. Her mother wants Joan to find a husband and has Joan wearing gowns and hairstyles in the latest fashions which do not suit her frame. Joan is full-figured and taller than most so the fashionable styles with a lot of lace and flounces are quite unflattering on her. After her Aunt Evangeline, who has a figure similar to Joan’s, comes to chaperone her Joan discovers there are styles that will work to her advantage and this allows her to finally appreciate her body the way it is, gaining much confidence in the process.

Tristan’s parents died when he was young and he was left in the care of an aunt and uncle who had no interest in him. When Tristan inherited his uncle’s title when he died as he only had daughters, he became further estranged from the family that resented him. As a result Tristan has spent most of his life doing as he pleased as he had little supervision and therefore no one to reign him in. In his youth Tristan spent most school holidays with friends wherein they would cause chaos resulting in Tristan never being invited somewhere twice. As an adult, not much has changed except for the nature of some of his activities.

Joan and Tristan’s romance followed one of my favorite historical romance pairings, the wallflower and the rake, however I did have one problem with the romance that centered on our hero Tristan. At the beginning of the book, Tristan makes several unkind remarks about Joan’s appearance and while he realizes his error and apologizes, it felt like an unnecessary inclusion to the romance. He was redeemed somewhat in that he started to fall for Joan before she made the changes to her appearance. Plus their physical chemistry was great and I enjoyed the steamy scenes quite a bit. The scandalous book Fifty Ways to Sin that’s included added a fun twist to their relationship once Tristan found out what it was and they set out to try some of the acts described.

Outside of the romance, there is very little extra to Love and Other Scandals. There is no mystery, no spies, no kidnappings, no fortune hunters. While not my usual choice, it was a refreshing change and it was nice to get a book that focused solely on the characters and their romance. I would definitely recommend the book to readers looking for a simpler historical romance that is character driven.

An exciting story of forbidden love. This is a great story about "plain" spinster who captured the attention of the town's most notorious rake. Can't wait to read the next novel in the series!