hayleyde's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars! I cannot recommend Caroline Linden any more enthusiastically! YMMV on particular books but her writing is so thoroughly real and she does healthy relationships really well. Read this series in order!!!!
laurenjodi's review against another edition
5.0
Love in the Time of Scandal
4.5 stars
When a good friend extolls the virtues of Benedict Lennox, Lord Atherton, Penelope Weston feels compelled to warn her that the handsome and charming viscount has some very serious flaws indeed. Benedict is not impressed with Penelope's interference, but his attempt to confront her soon leads to scandal. Soon the two find themselves wed against their will. Can their attraction for one another overcome their differences or is their marriage doomed from the start?
Series note: The reasons for Penelope and Atherton's animosity are established in the previous book. Therefore, it is recommended that the books be read in order.
As a fan of love/hate relationships, I am often disappointed when the romance does not live up to the potential established in earlier books. This is not one of those instances as Penelope and Benedict's chemistry is off the charts. This may be due to the fact that their interactions in the previous installment were minor and there was little indication of their attraction. Consequently, their encounters here are much more potent and intense.
Following the events of book #2, Benedict's character left much to be desired, but Linden manages to redeem him quite successfully. It is always entertaining when a reserved and stoic hero meets his match in the hellion heroine, and Penelope is nothing if not wild and passionate. It was wonderful watching them working together to make the best of their situation without any unnecessary angst.
All in all, this is the best book in the series so far and I look forward to Olivia and Jamie's book next. It will be interesting to see how the mystery surrounding her plays out.
4.5 stars
When a good friend extolls the virtues of Benedict Lennox, Lord Atherton, Penelope Weston feels compelled to warn her that the handsome and charming viscount has some very serious flaws indeed. Benedict is not impressed with Penelope's interference, but his attempt to confront her soon leads to scandal. Soon the two find themselves wed against their will. Can their attraction for one another overcome their differences or is their marriage doomed from the start?
Series note: The reasons for Penelope and Atherton's animosity are established in the previous book. Therefore, it is recommended that the books be read in order.
As a fan of love/hate relationships, I am often disappointed when the romance does not live up to the potential established in earlier books. This is not one of those instances as Penelope and Benedict's chemistry is off the charts. This may be due to the fact that their interactions in the previous installment were minor and there was little indication of their attraction. Consequently, their encounters here are much more potent and intense.
Following the events of book #2, Benedict's character left much to be desired, but Linden manages to redeem him quite successfully. It is always entertaining when a reserved and stoic hero meets his match in the hellion heroine, and Penelope is nothing if not wild and passionate. It was wonderful watching them working together to make the best of their situation without any unnecessary angst.
All in all, this is the best book in the series so far and I look forward to Olivia and Jamie's book next. It will be interesting to see how the mystery surrounding her plays out.
a_verthandi's review
4.0
WHOOPS STAYED UP UNTIL 3AM READING THIS
Really enjoyed this one. I'm always down for a heroine who's quick on her feet.
Really enjoyed this one. I'm always down for a heroine who's quick on her feet.
lassarina's review
4.0
Penelope Weston is outspoken and brash, but also an heiress with quite a dowry. Benedict Lennox, who formerly offered for her sister, infuriates her, which is just as well as he is looking for a demure and quiet wife, not a passionate firebrand like Penelope. Naturally, since they (think they) want nothing to do with each other, circumstances conspire to throw them together and allow them to fall in love.
Penelope has good reason to dislike Benedict: loyalty to her friends is absolutely paramount with her, and from her perspective, Benedict violated this sacred contract when it came to Sebastian Vane, the hero of the previous book in the series and Penelope's brother-in-law. As the reader, of course, we know that Benedict had reason—his father is hideously abusive and Benedict was too afraid to defy him—but to Penelope this is inconceivable, since she comes from a loving and supportive family. This tension between their family expectations (and their expectations of friendship) twines constantly around their interactions and what they expect from each other.
Benedict, meanwhile, wants a quiet wife with a fortune—the latter being necessary not because his family is headed for penury, but because the aforementioned abusive father enjoys using money to enforce his desires on his son. From Benedict's perspective, if he can acquire a comfortable living that isn't tied to his inheritance, then he can at least stay away from his father, if not get over the fear.
For all that he didn't want a woman of fiery temperament for his wife, and for all that Penelope disdains him for choosing her quiet, better-behaved sister over her, obviously they still can't stop staring at each other. When Penelope finds herself in a threatening situation after trying to help a friend, and Benedict rescues her, they cause a scandal, and the only way to alleviate it is to marry and learn to live with it as best they can.
Like the other Scandalous books, this one weaves around the mystery of the shocking pamphlet series 50 Ways to Sin, which good unmarried young ladies are absolutely not supposed to know about (so naturally they all do, which pretty much matches with my memory of being a teenager). I like the way the stories are alluded to and the way it plays into each heroine's relationship with her hero.
This book adds a mystery that seems set to play out in a later book, by making it clear that Penelope's friend Olivia is in a very bad situation having to do with the primary villains of this book, Benedict's father and Viscount Clary. For all that the seeds being planted here are obviously for the sequel, I felt that the plot of this book was resolved in a quite satisfactory manner: the part that touched on Penelope and Benedict's relationship is complete.
I think that to some extent, Benedict undergoes more growth than Penelope in this story, but I think he also had farther to go. A lot of this book is about him coming to terms with how incredibly warped his childhood was, and the ways that has caused spreading ripples of harm to those around him. Penelope's development is more related to both empathy and security—the former in the sense of her needing to truly understand that not everyone has a comfortable and secure home life emotionally (vs. financially, which she is already aware of and generous while not being obnoxious). As much as Penelope has always been cherished and protected, to a large degree that also meant from her own choices, and this book has a lot of her making less-than-wise choices and having to deal with the consequences of those. It works for the book, and for the character.
I really enjoyed this and look forward to more books in the series.
Penelope has good reason to dislike Benedict: loyalty to her friends is absolutely paramount with her, and from her perspective, Benedict violated this sacred contract when it came to Sebastian Vane, the hero of the previous book in the series and Penelope's brother-in-law. As the reader, of course, we know that Benedict had reason—his father is hideously abusive and Benedict was too afraid to defy him—but to Penelope this is inconceivable, since she comes from a loving and supportive family. This tension between their family expectations (and their expectations of friendship) twines constantly around their interactions and what they expect from each other.
Benedict, meanwhile, wants a quiet wife with a fortune—the latter being necessary not because his family is headed for penury, but because the aforementioned abusive father enjoys using money to enforce his desires on his son. From Benedict's perspective, if he can acquire a comfortable living that isn't tied to his inheritance, then he can at least stay away from his father, if not get over the fear.
For all that he didn't want a woman of fiery temperament for his wife, and for all that Penelope disdains him for choosing her quiet, better-behaved sister over her, obviously they still can't stop staring at each other. When Penelope finds herself in a threatening situation after trying to help a friend, and Benedict rescues her, they cause a scandal, and the only way to alleviate it is to marry and learn to live with it as best they can.
Like the other Scandalous books, this one weaves around the mystery of the shocking pamphlet series 50 Ways to Sin, which good unmarried young ladies are absolutely not supposed to know about (so naturally they all do, which pretty much matches with my memory of being a teenager). I like the way the stories are alluded to and the way it plays into each heroine's relationship with her hero.
This book adds a mystery that seems set to play out in a later book, by making it clear that Penelope's friend Olivia is in a very bad situation having to do with the primary villains of this book, Benedict's father and Viscount Clary. For all that the seeds being planted here are obviously for the sequel, I felt that the plot of this book was resolved in a quite satisfactory manner: the part that touched on Penelope and Benedict's relationship is complete.
I think that to some extent, Benedict undergoes more growth than Penelope in this story, but I think he also had farther to go. A lot of this book is about him coming to terms with how incredibly warped his childhood was, and the ways that has caused spreading ripples of harm to those around him. Penelope's development is more related to both empathy and security—the former in the sense of her needing to truly understand that not everyone has a comfortable and secure home life emotionally (vs. financially, which she is already aware of and generous while not being obnoxious). As much as Penelope has always been cherished and protected, to a large degree that also meant from her own choices, and this book has a lot of her making less-than-wise choices and having to deal with the consequences of those. It works for the book, and for the character.
I really enjoyed this and look forward to more books in the series.
emmascc's review
4.0
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I AM IN LOVE WITH BOTH OF THEM CAROLINE LINDEN THANK YOU
I AM IN LOVE WITH BOTH OF THEM CAROLINE LINDEN THANK YOU
megatza's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The whole Scandalous series from Caroline Linden has been 4.5⭐️ rounded up for me. This one has been my favorite so far with the biggest scandal to start off a marriage. It's an excellent midseries book, pulling in past characters and plots and setting up the next story effortlessly.
xishimmerix's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ufcasey's review
3.0
3.5 stars
This is a series that probably should be read in order. Events in the (presumably) prior books are referenced in this one, and while the author does summarize/spoil those books as needed, I think the early relationship between Penelope and Benedict is important back story that the reader misses out on by reading this book as a standalone. I, of course, only read this book so it probably impacted my enjoyment accordingly.
This was a decent enemies-to-lovers romance, but it did get a little over the top with the villainous characters.
This is a series that probably should be read in order. Events in the (presumably) prior books are referenced in this one, and while the author does summarize/spoil those books as needed, I think the early relationship between Penelope and Benedict is important back story that the reader misses out on by reading this book as a standalone. I, of course, only read this book so it probably impacted my enjoyment accordingly.
This was a decent enemies-to-lovers romance, but it did get a little over the top with the villainous characters.