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A COMMON SCANDAL
The Grantham Girls #2
Amanda Weaver
Releasing May 30th, 2016
Carina Press
Finishing school taught Amelia
Wheeler how to put on a well-mannered performance—when she’s not bored and
looking for trouble. Lady Grantham’s is behind her and now it's time for Amelia
to keep her promise to her dying mother: marry a title and leave her wild days
behind.
That promise would be much easier to
keep if Nate Smythe hadn’t just reappeared in a London ballroom. The son of an
impoverished sailor, Nate—Natty, as he used to be called—has grown up to become
handsome, rich and polished. He claims to be looking for a proper bride who can
advance his business interests, but that doesn’t stop him from seeking out
Amelia every chance he gets. Challenging her. Kissing her.
Suddenly, struggling against her
simmering passion is the least of Amelia's problems—one of her titled suitors
is hiding a desperate secret that could stop Amelia from pleasing her parents
or finding happiness with Nate. As a weeklong house party threatens to derail
her hard-won future, Amelia must decide: fight against disaster or act like the
lady she's promised to become?
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I enjoyed book one in this series, A Duchess in Name, and
was eager to read more in the series. A Common Scandal was a great addition!
This definitely reads as a standalone, with no need to read book 1 first.
Although, I always love to read a series in order!) Once again, the author does
a nice job blending the accuracy of the time period with the steamy side of
more modern novels. It's a fantastic balance for someone who enjoys the erotic
side of a book, and enjoys historical romances, but doesn't read them often
because they can definitely be very tame (a side effect of the eras in which
they are written.)
Amelia is a bit of a hell-raise, but her finishing school
training prevails in a lot of her actions. Her desire to please her parents
speaks of her ability to love and the respect she has for them. It doesn't mean
I didn't want to slap her parents upside the head... I ached so much for her as
her feelings for Nate were growing. Don't get me wrong, forbidden attraction
can be quite the catalyst, but this was different. It stemmed from years of
friendship and the new, adult hormones she is suddenly facing around him. Later
in the book, she really shows her back bone and I came to appreciate her
character a lot more.
Then there's Nate... Swoon. Their friendship was unusual, to
say the least, not only because of their social differences, but being of
different genders, in this time period, wasn't exactly conforming to rules.
Now, he's no longer the boy she knew, he's a man. M.A.N. Sexy, wealthy, and
determined to keep growing his empire by marry the a daughter of another man in
the ship trade,more than Nate, basically merging their businesses. Finding the
right woman is a challenge when you can only think about the wrong one. He
definitely possesses plenty of male stubbornness and I was glaring at him
through the pages from time to time.
Re-entering each other's lives, their banter was witty and
fun sometimes, and their chemistry sent sparks flying out of my kindle!
Unfortunately, this book also had the same trouble as the
first book when it comes to pacing. It's a slow start and though I was enjoying
it, I wasn't sucked in the way I should be. Until nearer the end. Then, it
takes off and I couldn't put it down. But, it wasn't enough to put it on my
re-read shelf knowing I'd have to go through the majority of the book again. I
certainly loved the last part of the book though.
Another success for the ladies of Lady Grantham's Finishing
School and I do recommend the series!
Amanda Weaver has loved
romance since she read that very first Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel at fifteen.
After a long detour into a career as a costume designer in theatre, she’s found
her way back to romance, this time as a writer.
A native
Floridian, Amanda transplanted to New York City many years ago and now
considers Brooklyn home, along with her husband, daughter, two cats, and
nowhere near enough space.
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