Customer Reviews

Marriage Most Scandalous

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Ms. Lindsey was one of the first author's I picked up when I started reading historical romance. I loved her!!! I purchased her books the second they were released, not caring if they were hardback or paperback. Sadly, I now borrow her reads from the library rather than lay down hard cold cash. This read though was not as bad as I feared it would be. This is not to say that this read was problem free...sadly it was far from that but, it was better than many of her past efforts.

Sebastain Townsend is banished from the family seat and even England after a duel ends in the death of his best friend Giles. Knowing that he is to blame for the whole situation he leaves England with just a friend and a few items and makes a name for himself as "The Raven" on the continent. This mercenary for hire will do whatever he must to see the job done. Does he have a death wish? Maybe. Than a face from his past comes looking for him, appealing to what she mistakes as his honor and pride. Come back to England with her and figure out who wants his father dead. Sebastian agrees after Maggie is willing to pay an outragous fee. In order to get back onto the estate they pose as a married couple. This shame relationship though is hard to put aside after awhile as they both start feeling very intense emotion for the other. Will they allow themselves to have a happy ending or will the enemy hiding in the shadows see to a rather different ending?

Again this story was mildly entertaining. I at turns liked and disliked both main characters Sebastian and Maggie. Both were so concerned about putting up a "fake" front to the other that it did begin to wear thin. The "suspense" line of this story seemed a bit forced...but still was a good foundation as any. Overall this read had some entertaining moments, and it was a bit of surprise to see how this story ended. Still, I long for the old days of Ms. Lindsey's sensual, romantic reads and wish that she would consider returning to those roots. She had a formula if you will that worked and enticed the reader back again and again. I can only hope that she takes a look at how she fleshed out likeable but strong characters in her older reads and attempts to do the same on her next effort.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

Remember the good old days? The days when Johanna Lindsey still cared enough to at least try to entertain her reading public? I remember, I do. The first romance I ever read back in the 80's was "Heart of Thunder". Over the years, I voraciously read all of her other novels. They were great, having characters I loved, as well as interesting plots. The writing was fast-paced and the author obviously spent at least some effort in historical research.
However, over the past decade or so, I have found her novels to be too formulaic and repetitive even for romances. It seems like she has gotten sloppy, and is just churning out a new book every year, banking on her name to make it a bestseller. Lindsey's books these days are so silly they remind me of the Sweet Valley High books I used to read in middle school.
Marriage Most Scandalous is yet another dull book in this long dry spell for Lindsey fans. Jolly anachronisms, such as befriending the servants, traipsing around Europe on a "shopping trip" for months, casual divorce, and modern slangy dialogue crop up willy-nilly. SLOPPY!
The characters are thinly drawn. Sebastian seems cold and manipulative, although I rather liked Margaret. But the explanation provided for her affection for Sebastian's family is insufficient, considering their personalities. As for the romance itself, we're supposed to believe these characters are attracted to each other because the author tells us they are. We can't see why, but really! They really like each other! Wow. Yawn.
Did I mention the dialogue is stilted and there is too much exposition? The author treats us like idiots, not trusting us to figure anything out. Not that we really want to, the plot is so boring. Basically, it revolves around the hero's father tripping over his own feet repeatedly. Let's see, can that be right? ...Yep, that sums it up pretty well.
I would like to see Johanna Lindsey really exert herself for a change. She is not the author she used to be. I would really like to see her make a comeback, like any other media star you see these days. But as long as her public keeps buying this drivel, I'm sure we can expect more of the same. I'm only sorry I contributed valuable funds to this terrible trend.

Johanna Lindsey was THE author who piloted me into the realm of romance heaven. She was THE author that completely hooked me and she opened a whole new world of enjoyment. For that - I am eternally grateful. So it is with heavy heart that I review Johanna's latest entry.

Lady Margaret Landor remembers Sebastian Townshend as a tall, dashing, and charming bachelor. Never did she dream that one day she would hire him to save HIS OWN father. Although Sebastian Townshend has forged a new identity, Maggie is certain he will come home, but Sebastian Townshend has vowed never to return to England.

His own father banished him. His heartbreaking exile was the result of a tragic duel - a duel his father, the Earl of Edgewood, cautioned against - emphatically! Now living on the continent, Sebastian Townshend is 'The Raven' - a deadly mercenary and Lady Margaret Landor needs his help.

Like most of Lindsey's recent books, MARRIAGE MOST SCANDALOUS is unfortunate. Heavy use of repetition assembles a bumpy jagged storyline! So much of the book is spent trying to develop a conspiracy there is little build-up time for romance. The fake marriage is nothing but the author's excuse to get sensual passion into the story, unfortunately the reader never feels that emotion! And believing the story's passion is this genre's foundation!

Sadly, 'Love a Lindsey' was once the rallying cry among romance fans. Alas, not anymore. WHY? I want to know why! Johanna Lindsey still has the talent to write, but it seems she has misplaced her technique! WHY?

"If it ain't broke . . . don't fix it!"

Please Johanna, reexamine your legendary PRISONER OF MY DESIRE, GENTLE ROGUE and TENDER REBEL and rediscover your formula - your tried and true formula. P.l.e.a.s.e. . . please go back to your roots!
Grade: C-

MaryGrace Meloche.

I just came to this page and was shocked at all of the bad reviews for this book. I absolutely loved this book. It was one of the best books I have read recently. It kept me interested the whole way through with no missteps! Yes, perhaps the plot was a little complicated but not for the times. This is often how things happened back in those days. Very often parents would disinherit a child for some foolish reason and after a duel it was quite common for a son to escape to the continent and feel embittered against his family. I do not find anything about the plot a stretch at all. What I did find was a really interesting man Sebastian who was very dark in some ways but had just enough of a pithiness to him to make me just want to melt all over the page for him. He was so damn sexy! If I would have been Maggie I would have never even made it through the first night in that bedroom. This was a great family tragedy that finally came together in a wonderful way. I thought it was an excellent Lindsey book and really strongly recommend it to everyone!!

This book was so disappointing--I've read almost all of Johanna Lindsey's books, and I was so looking forward to this one. I completely agree with the first two reviewers--there were terrible characters, poor writing, and horrendous plot development--finally, it felt like she finally got bored and decided to wrap up the entire story in the last two chapters so she could finally put an end to it. It was so disappointing that I had to check the inside cover three times to make sure this was truly was a book Johanna Lindsey had written.

Well, I really don't understand all the fuss some readers made about the "authenticity" of the story. It's fiction for crying out loud! Marriage Most Scandalous had an interesting story, it grabbed me from the start, saucy characters, and great plot twists. Several times I exclaimed out loud! Glad I was by myself. It is a fun, escape from reality read. I read it in a couple of days and enjoyed it thoroughly. Hey, part of the reason we read the novels is to escape, so what if some of it stretched the bounds of reality at times. I enjoyed the characters, loved the story, giggled at the surprises.

I hate to say this but DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!! All the reasons have been mentioned: superficial characterization, contrived plot, and an ending not to be believed! Like others, I got hooked on romances by this very author, and it saddens me to give her such a poor review. But this story has no depth of feeling and one is not drawn to these characters as written. I would have been furious had I paid for this book. I did check it out from the library...I'm just furious at the time I wasted reading it!

This book starts out great: we have the dangerous and mysterious hero, the plucky heroine, and slightly sinister circumstances. Naturally, the two dislike each other from the start, even though they find each other physically attractive. This part was well done and held much promise for a good read. But the book begins to wobble when the concept of "divorce" is mentioned -- something that rarely existed in England at the time -- and it really falls apart during the last two chapters with an extraordinarily implausible ending. A reader can suspend disbelief for only so long, and this rushed and highly unlikely scenario simply doesn't ring true.

That said, it's not a bad read, but those who are expecting Lindsey's best work are certain to be disappointed.

This book started out with some promise. I agree with the other reviewer, the hero and herione didn't seem to really like each other. It was more like it was time to interject the love scene.

The loose ends were neatly tied up at the end with a disappointing payoff. There was no emotional build up at all.

The unrealistic points such as Maggie living alone at 23 or her being a ward of a family friend didn't bother me as much as the way they tied up the end of the book.

Second waste of money for my business trip! I wanted something light and entertaining. Never read Johanna Lindsey so thought this should be a nice piece of fluff. What a waste of money.

It started out pretty well and I kept hoping after the hero and heroine met it would take off! What a DUD. The plot was endless drivel and the solution was in the twilight zone. I didnt like either the hero or the heroine. They had no depth. And the love story - - this is love???

Well, the aiport bookstore and Ms Lindsey made money on me. Not again!