Highland Scandal (Thorndike Core) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Julia London (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1410418103 | ISBN-13: 978-1410418104 | Publication Date: September 2009 | Edition: Lrg

On the run from the wrathful Prince of Wales, Jack Haines, Earl of Lambourne, is taken prisoner by a Highland laird who makes him an unusual offer: if Jack handfasts his niece, then his life will be spared. The old Highland custom -- a marriage lasting only a year and a day, unless both partners agree to make it a lifelong vow -- sounds preferable to Jack to being dragged to London in chains, and when he meets lovely Lizzie Beal, his dilemma starts to seem positively enjoyable. Until the hellion vents her fury...on him! Detesting the scandalous match that will end all her chances of making a respectable marriage, Lizzie can't abide living intimately with a fugitive nobleman bent on seducing her and then running off. But in teaching her the pleasures of a wife's duties, Jack sparks within them both a passion that will make him wish he could stay with Lizzie for much longer than a year and a day.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

After rumors (untrue, not that it matters) naming Jack Haines as one of Princess Caroline’s lovers begin to surface in London, the earl packs his bags and heads for Scotland one step ahead of Prince George’s men. While on the run, Jack becomes the “guest” of Highland laird Carson Beal, who gives him a choice: either agree to a handfasting with Elizabeth Drummond Beal, or Carson will turn Jack over to his pursuers. Marriage or death? The choice seems obvious until Jack gets to know his intractable, insufferable, and irresistible new wife. London’s signature nuanced characters, subtle wit, and elegantly sexy style blend flawlessly in the second captivating installment of her fabulous Regency-set Scandalous series. --John Charles --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Review

"Sinfully sexy romance." -- Booklist --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 531 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (September 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410418103
• ISBN-13: 978-1410418104
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,600,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julia London is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including the popular Secrets of Hadley Green historical romance series (including The Year of Living Scandalously), the Cedar Springs contemporary series (including One Season of Sunshine), and numerous other works. She is a four time finalist for the presitigous RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction, and RT Bookclub award recipient for Best Historical Romance for Best Historical Romance for Dangerous Gentleman. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Scandal is right!, May 20, 2009

By 

booklover1335 for "Seductive Musings" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Highland Scandal (Scandalous) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was eagerly anticipating this new series from Julia London, because I am a highland romance junkie. I mean what's not to love, men in kilts, the oftentimes romantic Gaelic language, the raw beauty of the landscape, and did I mention men in kilts...I think you get the picture. I have read many of Ms. London's romances, and have never been disappointed...until now. When I read the teaser line "You deserve to know what it is like to be wholly seduced" I thought, "wow", which unfortunately turned into more of a "huh".

I'm not going to go into much into detail about the book, because frankly the blurb on the back cover pretty much covers it all. It wasn't until I got to about page two hundred, that the story finally started to become somewhat interesting, but even then their story wasn't scandalous. It all seemed like words on a page, and most of them boring & forgettable. The emotions and the characters of Jack and Lizzie never really seemed to come alive for me. I thought the story might become more interesting when it is revealed that Jack's father was an emotional and physical abuser, and Jack fears becoming like him. Yet very little is done with this fact. Lizzie is "almost" engaged to another man, but she and her almost fiancé give each other up without too much thought, or guilt. The few romantic scenes came off to me more "cheesy" than heartfelt declarations of love. But the biggest revealing disappointment for me was the moment Jack decides to appeal to the king on Lizzie's behalf, knowing by doing so he could be sent to his death. This kind of sacrifice almost always gets to me (we're talking major tears and heaving sobs...I'm a sucker for it), but in Highland Scandal this element failed to induce any sense of loss, or sacrifice, which is sad.

The story that I wish Julia would have written was the secondary romance between Lizzie's handicapped sister Charlotte and the highlander sent to protect her, Newton. Charlotte was the family beauty, sophisticated and charming, with her pick of eligible and wealthy suitors, whose world came crashing to a halt after she became paralyzed from a horse riding accident. After the accident she becomes reclusive and bitter, mourns the loss of her dreams, resents the fact that she is dependant on the people that she loves, and feels guilty for being an added burden on their meager resources.

Newton is a modest highlander, who is sent to protect Charlotte when Lizzie is taken to her Uncle's castle to become hand fasted to Jack. Despite Charlotte's abrasiveness, a friendship blossoms between these two unlikely people, and Newton finds endearing ways to bring happiness back to her life. The reader is given very brief glimpses into their romance, but the few scenes we are gifted with are sincerely touching. I wanted more of Charlotte and Newton's romance, and less with Jack and Lizzie. Unfortunately, the epilogue written at the end of Highland Scandal concludes both love stories, so sadly we will never get to fully enjoy the more compelling love story between Charlotte and Newton, and that for me is truly scandalous.

Booklover1335 for Seductive Musings

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Annoying Heroine, May 25, 2009

By 

S Smith - See all my reviews

This review is from: Highland Scandal (Scandalous) (Mass Market Paperback)

The main heroine, Lizzie, is everything I hate in a heroine. She is uncommunicative, uncompromising, and whiny. Her horridness is even more obvious since the hero is so reasonable and likeable. He acknowledges the situations and makes the best of it while she whines and attacks him more than once. Both are being forced into this relationship, but she makes it all about her. Oh, I find her so annoying I can't put it into words.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Is this Julia London?, July 27, 2009

By 

M. O'Rourke - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Highland Scandal (Scandalous) (Mass Market Paperback)

I won't describe the book as others before me have already done so. I am a big fan of Julia London and have not read any of her books that I didn't like. I made it through about 6 chapters of this book before I couldn't stand it anymore. The heroine is self-centered, cruel and whiny and treats Jack, the hero, terribly. The two are forced into a handfasting yet she treats him as though it's all his fault. Jack could be hanged if he didn't accept this handfast, but she could care less. She does whatever she can to get away from him and her uncle even though the uncle has said Jack will be handed over to the bounty hunters if she gets away.

Even her sister is a shrew so I can see how they're related. You wouldn't know these women were 23 and 25 years with such nasty behavior. Jack, on the other hand, looks at the situation with a clear head and resolves to make the best of it. He treats her well while she attacks him with a dirk, kicks him under the table, has him locked up in a shed and on and on.

There was no depth to any of the characters. They seemed fairly one dimensional. I can't believe Julia London wrote such a terrible story and used such miserable, mean female characters!