Scandal of the Year: Abandoned at the Altar (The Abandoned At The Altar Series, 2)

Laura Lee Guhrke brings readers back to the turn of the 20th century when the nouveau riche Americans, the feminist movement and world wars would soon change the landscape of European culture. In her first book, LLGuhrke offered us young love rediscovered with more traditional characters: two aristocrats brought up to understand their proper role in life. This second book in the Abandon at the Altar series delves deeper into social changes during the era which influence the characters' romance.

The hero, Aidan, is a wealthy duke who understands his role in life. He sits in the House of Lords, rides his horse and carriage, and enjoys classical music. He is a traditionalist. The heroine, Julia, is a lady. She's always been a bit of a rebel, but as an adult she personifies the bad girl of the early 20th century. She smokes, drives a car, plays that scandalous ragtime music, and even gets a job. She is a modernist. Conflicting as their social views are, the one thing they do agree on is that they are attracted to each other; and have been since they met as teenagers. However, their romance has been star crossed since the beginning and it's not until more than a decade passes that something happens to change their course. The English have progressed to the point where divorces are now granted, however the power to bring cause for divorce is still mostly in the hands of the husband. In Julia's case, the only option she has is to be charged with adultery, and she uses Aidan to that end.

The bulk of the story focuses on the characters after the scandal of divorce. Julia is now a social pariah and Aidan is slightly tarnished in the eyes of the ton, although he is a wealthy, single duke so he's not given the cut direct. However, their mutual notoriety and mutual friends force them to be in contact with each other and ultimately gives them the time to discover and develop their romance.

I truly enjoyed following Julia and Aidan through their romance, however so much of the book was devoted to creating the back story of the lead characters that it felt like LLGuhrke all of a sudden realized there was less than 1/3 of the book to go and rushed through the actual courtship, romance, and happily ever after. Aidan realizes he's been in love with Julia since they were teenagers; but his realization is not very believable. You get something to the effect of "oh duh, I love her. I've always loved her."; it puts a damper on the romance. The proposal, marriage, and happily ever after all occur within 20 pages or less and you're left kind of hanging at the end wondering what happened. I only say this because LLGuhrke made it such a point at the beginning that Aidan was searching for a wife because he didn't want his wastrel of a cousin to inherit the dukedom, but by the end there's a possibility that Julia can't have children yet it's glossed over in about a paragraph of dialogue.

Overall I do recommend this book as the characters are not your typical glass case nobles and it's refreshing to be in a non-standard historical romance time period. Also of note to readers, unlike its predecessor, the characters for the next installment of Abandoned at the Altar are barely mentioned in this story. LLGuhrke has a short synopsis on her website, but, at least for me, there isn't the excited anticipation for Book 3 simply because we aren't given the opportunity to know those characters other than their names.

The heroine in this book was one of the most unlikeable characters I've ever encountered in a book (she was a chain smoking manipulative witch) and I spent the part of the book I could stomach (she was so unlikeable I couldn't finish the book) hoping the likable hero would actually end up with someone decent. I usually really like this author, but this book was a waste of paper and time.

When the first book (Wedding of the Season) of this series ended I wondered about a couple of the characters: Why did Aidan give up so easily; Would Julia find happiness? I hoped my questions would be answered in the second book and was happy to find that Scandal of the Year is the story of Aidan and Julia.

As you would expect, Laura Lee Guhrke's main characters are more fully developed than they were in the first book. I came to appreciate the reasons for their actions as the author let us in on their lives. There is a lot of push and pull between Aidan and Julia. Aidan is a true gentleman - honorable and quite devoted once his trust is gained. Julia has hidden behind a bold and happy facade for many years. She doesn't want anyone to know how frightened she has been and how horrible and abusive her marriage was.

Ms.Guhrke brings Aidan and Julia together slowly. I was glad about that. In book one they seemed to abhor each other but in this book we find they have a history and there were reasons for their previous behavior. If you're an impatient reader you may get frustrated and wonder if things will work out for these two. You'll have to read the book to find out.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 White Roses.

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Julia knew that the only way to escape her husband and the sham of a marriage she was stuck in, is for her husband to find her in a state of deshabille with another man. Julia also realized that the best candidate to be found in such a scandal with is none other than Aidan Carr, the Duke of Trathen. So when she was finally granted a divorce she showed no remorse whatsoever to society who was shocked and appalled by her behavior. She had her freedom. Her only regret was the humiliation Aidan had to endure so she can be free.

Aidan is, for the third time, looking for a wife. Twice jilted, he's now a bit... well... hesitant to jump back into the fray. His first fiancé left him for her true love. Then the fiancé after that broke off the engagement after the scandal with Julia broke out. So now, he's as ready as he'll ever be, to hop back into that marriage mart and look for a suitable bride fit for a duke. But while Julia is definitely the farthest thing from "suitable", Aidan finds himself constantly thinking about her and no one else.

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I actually found it very difficult to finish this story. It was actually a bit bland and didn't really hold my interest. Not to say that the writing wasn't well done, I just couldn't find a way to immerse myself in the story. Many times I felt the urge to just skip to the end. And that's not how a book should be read. A reader should look forward to each and every word and I just didn't find that with Scandal of the Year.

There are also some contradicting points in the story that were a bit confusing. Julia was in an abusive marriage and yes, women at that time had very little they could do about the situation. But then she went from abused woman desperate for an escape (which any reasonable woman can understand) to manipulative, chain-smoking, devilish vixen. I could not find myself liking her as a heroine.

Then there was Aidan. He's a very nice and decent man who is such a gentleman that he will not snub Julia even though a part of him wants to do so. He is so nice that he even hires her to help him find a bride. But the part that is confusing is that he spent so much time angry for what happened between the two of them that when she actually reveals the truth of the situation, he has no problem accepting it.

I am sure to some this book was marvelous and that's perfectly fine. But Scandal of the Year did not float my literary boat.

Hugs,

The Lustrous Courtesan

ReadingHaven.com

This was simply just an absolute dull of a read. The story held no suspense or substantial plot whatsoever. The heroine came across as nothing of a lady, if not a "trailer park trash" of a woman lacking finesse, feminine demure and education. The author attributes these "hardened" qualities to the heroine having gone through a very rough and sadistically sick marriage with her husband; COME ON. Thank goodness that our hero was the complete opposite and was extremely stable for the two of them.

However, this hero lacked a strong backbone and spends his time pining after the heroine throughout the entire book. He even proposes the complete package of marriage to his heroine to be flat out neglected and compared to the sadistically sick former husband to then being accepted an hour later after she had an epiphany of a moment where she came to her senses and agreed with his supplications and assurances on how their future life would be together -PA-LEASE.

The author's way of going back in time giving us the memories and history to the various events that took place with these two lovers was distracting, (endless upon endless pages of garbage) unnecessary and totally trite; these flashbacks would occur sporadically between chapters where nothing exciting took place in the previous chapter to continue the original story in the following chapter in an uneventful setting. Then why the flashback to begin with?

It seems that the only commonality between the two lovers is that they each took two failed relationships to get to one another. So, maybe them both being such complete failures in romance with other people, the trashy mouth of a wild and chain smoking rebellious heroine wearing smelly and stinky clothes as a result of her smoking habit coupled with a stiffly proper, wealthy and pining Duke alluded the author into thinking she would write a very successful romance? --- Uh, I don't think it worked for me.

This is the 3rd...count 3rd book by this author where I could not read the entire book. I usually have to call it quits by the 4th or 5th chapter. This would also be one of those books. This book look like it had potential so I tried to read this book TWICE and I still couldn't get through it. Not worth reading in my opinion. Honestly her best book would be Guilty Pleasures...and even that book really should have a different title...

This was actually a predictable story....the characters lacked depth and chemistry and I agree with another reviewer that the end was rushed...

Although she won't admit it to anyone, least of all herself, Julia has loved Aidan Carr, the very proper Duke of Trathen, almost since she met him. Although she is trapped in a very unhappy marriage, to an abusive husband, it still broke her heart when she introduced him to her cousin Beatrix and watched him fall for her and ask her marry him. Now that Beatrix has ended their engagement, Aidan is on the look out for a proper bride to give him the heir he needs but he can't stop being drawn to Julia. Julia is determined that before she loses Aidan for good, she's going to have an affair with him. Only love grabs hold and won't let go. After looking at all the very proper candidates for his wife, Aidan knows that only the very unproper Julia will do. But Julia's sadistic husband refuses to let her go and Aidan refuses to take no for an answer!

I honestly admit, I didn't pick this book for review. Due to a snafu it made it into my review list. But now I can only be grateful for that snafu or I would have missed a truly entertaining read. Julia pulled my heartstrings from almost the first page and I desperately wanted Aidan to save her. I couldn't let go of reading until I turned the last page. Don't miss out like I almost did! Add Laura Lee Guhrke's Scandal of the Year to your reading list today!

Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Why, oh why, have I waited so long to read another historical romance novel? Seriously, I know many of you won't understand it, but it's like comimg home. I think it's because no matter what, I know when I start one it will have a happy ending and it will make me laugh and smile and maybe even cry along the way. I vow never to go this long without reading a romance novel ever again.

This one follows Lady Julia Yardley after her divorce is final. She was stuck in a very bad marriage and to get out of it, she timed things just right so her husband would walk in on her having an affair with Aiden Carr, Duke of Trathen and finally divorce her. After all is said and done, she finds that she though she doesn't regret her decisions, she is not proud of having used Aiden. Aiden, a gentleman with a high code of honor, cannot get over having done something so unhonorable and yet is still drawn to Julia, obsessed might be a better word. But another affiar with her is out of the question because he is searching for a wife, determined to actually make it to the altar this time, after 2 failed previous attempts. This sets up the basics of the story. We get to watch them flirt, watch him fight his attraction and watch her be amused by it before becoming terrified of it. Things happen and we get our happily ever after.

I must say that I love Julia because she isn't your typical historical romance heroine. She smokes, she drinks, she swears, and she truly doesn't give a damn what society has to say about it. She reminded me a bit of Lily from Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas. I truly enjoyed watching Aiden slowly peel back her layers to see the person she hids underneath the uncaring mask. Aiden, while he may not be my favorite hero, he does the job well. His upstanding character is the perfect compliment to Julia's wild ways.

I am a huge Laura Lee Guhrke fan and I was extremely anxious to read Scandal of the Year. This book definitely did not disappoint.

SOTY, picks up two years after Wedding of the Season left off. SOTY opens up with Julia Yardley being accused of having an affair with Aidan Carr, the Duke of Trathen by her husband. After publicly declaring her affair, she obtains a long sought after divorce from her abusive husband.

Now six months later Aidan Carr is once again looking for a wife when he encounters Julia at a ball. Aidan knows that they had an affair but cannot remember all of the details because he was heavily intoxicated when it happened. He finds himself continuously battling a strong desire for Julia. Julia has always had strong feelings for Aidan and feels terrible for using him to obtain her divorce. She is now trying to become more respectable and wants to pay her debts so she goes to Aidan for help with a job. Aidan, who is looking for a wife that compliments him and is suitable for becoming a Duchess ask Julia to become his social secretary.

Whenever the two are together we see lots of sparks flying. Both are attracted to the other but neither wants to act on it. Julia is still trying to get over her horrendous marriage. She has made herself not feel anytype of emotions in twelve years to help herself cope. When she is with Aidan he makes her feel things and she hates it. So she keeps running away from him. Aidan, just can't seem to get Julia off his mind so he is continuouly chasing her.

Eventually the two come together and it's wonderful to see Julia's walls come down. We also see the proper and staid Aidan reconize his feelings and realize that he's loved Julia since they met twelve years ago.