Customer Reviews

Beyond Scandal

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I've read other books that were intense and involving by Brenda Joyce, but this one was really disappointing! The main characters were just unlikeable and not sympathetic at all. The "hero" Dom is arrogant, selfish, and completely cavalier in his treatment of his wife Anne and his family. We're to believe that he ignored Anne for four years because he was tormented and feared loving her, but what about his mistress with whom he has two children?! Frankly, I wanted to know more about this woman - she must be more interesting than Anne if Dom had a five-year relationship with her and still sees her on a regular basis! As for Anne, she quickly lost any sympathy I felt for her as she disintegrated into a fearful, emotionally-unstable stereotypically "gothic" heroine. Throughout the book, she succumbs to Dom, then regrets it, angry at him and herself. She's been running the estate by herself for 4 years, so I expected her to have more gumption. I never felt that Dom valued or understood Anne as a person while Anne inexplicably loves the guy.

Additionally, there are a lot of minor characters and they're all involved in the story, which further detracted from the Anne-Dom storyline, especially since nothing really changes in their relationship. The author also reveals who the culprit is early on, so the "mysterious" attacks on Anne don't generate any suspense. This whole plot point seemed unnecessary. The story could have been tighter if the author had concentrated on the relationships between Anne and Dom and within his family.

I'll admit that I'm partial to romances where the couple is married and then has to figure out that they love each other. It doesn't have much to do with real life but it sure makes for good sexual tension in a novel. It that sense, this book succeeds completely.

What is less successful is the developement of the love aspect. I agree with other reviewers that the declaration of love on Dom's part seems to happen out of thin air.

As for the auxillary plot(s), this one is ok. I generally am annoyed by the seeming trend to require some sort of "evil" as a catalyst to bring the couple together. At least this one seems modestly relevant. It would have been nicer if Dom and Anne simply could have found each other's arms for good reasons -- not out of fear.

Bottom line: An ok read, pretty sexy love scenes but not a book that touched me deeply.

I'd agree with the reviewers who said this book was a page-turner -- at least in the first half. The second half, though, fell apart. (It didn't seem as well edited.) A number of less-interesting scenes detracted from the plot. No spark, other than lusty sex, developed between the two characters, and I didn't feel that estrangement issue was resolved. So, why was Dom away for 4 years, and what are they going to do about it? What about the mistress and the other two children? Three stars because it had potential to be a really good book.

In a nutshell, I disliked every single major character. The heroine, Anne during the prologue came off as being too insecure as to be unbearable. She blossomed into a woman tauted as being kind and generous, but I never saw evidence of those characteristics through the entire plot. Then, she was a rollercoaster ride of "I love him, but..." and "I can never trust him again," and "could I risk my fragile heart" and "I'm going for it..." I just wanted to strangle her. Make a damn decision that you can actually live with for crying out loud. Instead, she kept wanting to avoid the hero, yet pining after him to the point of nauseum.

The hero, Dom was frustratingly arrogant and wishy washy in the beginning. He returned to him family home because of the death of his father, otherwise, he would still be living in one of his estates closeby to his two illegitimate children. Being home, he decided he was going to make a go with Anne. Why? I have no idea. But through that process he found that he was in love with her all along, and avoided her because he was afraid to be in love. Which was a ridiculous concept since Anne would be the safest person on this blue planet in whom to entrust one's heart. What an idiot. Anyway, things happened and he spent the entire last 3/4 of the book trying to convince Anne he really was in love with her, which she refused to believe. There's a host of misunderstandings that could be totally cleared up if everyone involved could just TALK.

The villain Patrick who was also in love with Anne, who kept pressuring her to runaway with him was an annoying road block between Anne and Dom's faltering relationship. Everytime he reared his infuriating head, you just had to sigh in frustration. He reminded me of a damn gopher that keeps popping his annoying head when you just want your roses to thrive.

The other villain being Anne's rival, Dom's jilted fiance who was denied Dom's name when Dom was forced to marry Anne from being caught in a compromising position with Anne in the book's prologue, was like a witch in a sexy body. She was evil through and through, comsumed with jealousy, obsession, and revenge. From the start, you just knew she had to be behind everything. Then, in the end, she wasn't even punished for her evil deeds. And there was no repentance, which means she's out there somewhere even at the close of the story.

Finally, Clairese, Dom's mother who was involved with the twisted mystery that lined the story, was thoroughly unlikeable. She hated Anne, and we never learn if she ever changed her mind about her. At the expense of her son, she would hide a terrible secret because, selfishly, she cannot face society's scorn if the secret was out. She "loved" her son, or so she said, but she seemed to me more wrapped up in her own interest. And how Dom treated her so kindly, was commendable, but did not make Clairese anymore enduring.

I finished the book only because Joyce is such a good writer, but the characters were sorely lacking and ruined the story.

Anne Stewart has been in love with Dominick for more years than she can remember. Since learning of his engagement to her cousin Felicity, Anne has accepted that she'll become a spinster. Ann and Dominick are caught in a compromising position in the gardens during the engagement party and she quickly finds herself exchanging vows with the man of her dreams, only to have him abandon her on their wedding night.

Dominick Saint Georges, Viscount Lyons, must marry in order to carry on the family name. Lineage, not love, was the deciding factor when he agreed to an engagement to Felicity. Too bad his sense of honor didn't stop him from indulging in his baser desires with Anne. He had no choice but to do the honorable thing and marry her. That doesn't mean he has to be happy about the marriage or live with his new wife.

Four years after marrying and leaving Anne, Dom leaves Paris and returns to England after learning that his father has become ill. Arriving on the day of his father's funeral comes as a shock to him. He never really got a chance to know his father. He hasn't even spoken to him since the day of his wedding.

If Don thinks he is going to be welcomed home by a loving wife, then he is sadly mistaken. Anne is determined to have nothing to do with Dom. Thanks to him she's suffered years of shame, remains a subject of gossip, and is an outcast of `polite' society. She could never forgive him for the pain he's caused her.

His father's death isn't the only unexpected news that Dom receives as soon as he returns home. He also learns that his father's home, Waverly Hall, has been placed in a trust with Anne as the sole beneficiary by his grandfather, Rutherford. Dom is infuriated by the insult and goes to Rutherford demanding answers, which Rutherford is only too happy to provide. Yes, the house does belong to Anne but there is a way that Dom can regain it. All he has to do is perform his marital duty and provide an heir. Dom's mother, Clarisse, is convinced that Anne has schemed her way into Dom's life and everything from their marriage to her acquiring the house had been carefully plotted out. Clarisse couldn't be more wrong, Anne is very much in love with Dom, always has been. Does she dare trust him after the callous way he once left her?

Brenda Joyce never fails to write thrilling historical novels that have readers holding their breath in anticipation of what unexpected twists and turns the plot will take. BEYOND SCANDAL is chock full of mini plots that tease and entice you to keep reading until you know all the nitty gritty details. Dominick and Anne make a fabulous couple. Both of them are strong-willed and determined to have their own way. Throw in a meddling old man and things get extremely interesting!

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

It might just be me, but when I read a romance novel I want to be reaffirmed of my belief in love. Being told that the characters fell in love, without seeing any reason why, does not work. The hero was awful. Why did the heroine fall in love with him? And while there were reasons for him to fall in love with the heroine, it never seems as if the hero did. He just suddenly starts proclaiming love. Skip this, and move onto novels that make you, and the characters fall in love.

Beyond Scandal is great historical romantic adventure. This is story about young women Anne Stewart who has always loved Dominick Saint George but he is preparing to marry her cousin. I won't give to much away but someone tries to kill Anne and there is a lot suspects. If you enjoy romance based around the historical genre than you will enjoy this book. I would also recommended `A Loving Scoundrel' by Johanna Lindsey and `All about love' by Stephanie Laurens.

What is it with these writers that think it is romantic for the Husband to leave the wife and go and sleep with everyone he can and then come back to his wife and his explanation is that he was frightened to love, WTF, he also has 2 children with one of his mistresses he had for 5 years. Yes that's right he could sleep with and have children by an exmistress but he couldn't give his wife the same time, AH. Please do not read. Too much angst to bother. Find a proper romance with a great Hero worthy of the name.

without going over the plot again, i found it not believable that the hero would leave our heroine on his wedding night when he couldn't keep his hands off her in the first place when he wasn't married to her. yes, i know, he had a fear of commitment, but to leave without a word to the
woman he disgraced and had to marry? sorry, not buying it. i also couldn't buy how he came home 4 years later for a totally unrelated reason and immediately decided he couldn't live without her. why would she take him back? she was portrayed as maturing during the time he was gone but she almost immediately reverts to where she was before he left.
an okay read at best.

I am sorry but I felt no simpathy for both heros ! HIM: his disappearance for 4 years is unacceptable if only based on his fear of love (not really realistic ). They didn't have a good conversation about that. HER : I think she is very very weak, not at all in phase with what she accomplished for 4 years (running the estate by herself). She was too influencable for my liking. She didn't back up her husband when he needed it.