20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Friends become lovers, September 12, 2005
Ryan Donally and Rachel Bailey have known each other for years. Ryan had been in love with Rachel as a young man, but she had a crush on his older brother. It's not hard to believe that considering Ryan used to put spiders in her hair. They were just not ready to be in love with each other. After an emotional outburst following his wife's funeral, neither Ryan nor Rachel have seen each other in over four years. Now in a crowded ballroom, Rachel seeks to make amends with Ryan and see her goddaughter again. When they meet, their feelings aren't just friendly. They spark with attraction and spice. However, there are a couple of problems. Ryan is set to become engaged, while Rachel harbors a secret that could ruin them both. Life and love are never easy for these two.
A Match Made In Scandal is a story of two friends who are seeing each other in a different light after years apart. Ryan is so focused on his business and his daughter, that he doesn't have time for love. He is marrying to help secure his business. When he sees Rachel again, all of his old feelings resurface. I could see him start to change from a ruthless businessman to someone who found love is worth more than money. Rachel is way ahead of her time. She is not only educated but owns part of a successful small company. Despite her success, she is not taken seriously, except by her grandmother and close friends. However, that doesn't stop her from going head to head with Ryan. Her ingenuity and generous heart certainly give Ryan a run for his money.
The characteristics that attract Rachel and Ryan to each other, also seem to drive them crazy at some point. Even though Ryan's ambition and drive are admirable, I feel like he was disillusioned by it all. Everything was about the next dollar or deal. He was becoming too cynical and hard. On the other hand, Rachel was a bit too idealistic. What a wake up call it was for her to see that life isn't always the way she planned. In spite of their opposite views on their business, I could see flashes of admiration through out the book. They had a camaraderie and familiarity that was difficult to miss.
I enjoyed how Ms. Thomas weaved the past and present so seamlessly throughout A Match Made In Scandal. I didn't feel bogged down or bored at any part. When Rachel's past comes back to haunt her and Ryan sees he could lose her again, it finally pushes him into taking action to get what he wants. The chemistry between the two was hot. It combined the familiar past with their new-found feelings to create a love that is unique. Overall, A Match Made in Scandal shows that you can find an everlasting love in old friends.
Lee
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
HOT HOT HOT Heated romantic suspense, September 2, 2005
I found the characters to be multi-dimensional and the author weaves a mystery into the story without slowing it down or interrupting the romantic flow. The plot and characters seemed fresh, the pace was quick, and it was a totally engrossing read. It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with both the palatable passion and the keen sense of danger infused in the story. The plot moved along at a great pace. Full of enjoyable supporting characters and stories. A Match Made in Scandal was an emotional roller coaster, and I felt all the pain and joy they did. I was so engrossed, I read it in a day. Wonderfully written! And very sexy historical Romance book. A Match Made in Scandal is a book I know I will be reading for years to come. It's a keeper.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply amazing., November 18, 2005
After reading a slew of really terrible books, that included work by Sandra Brown and Joan Johnston, I skeptically picked up this book at a drug store last week. Not an author I'd ever heard of, I thought I was doomed for disappointment again. I couldn't have been more wrong. The book grabbed me from the very first page and I could barely put it down to do anything else, couldn't wait to pick it back up again and continue reading. I am a huge Julia London (The Rogues of Regent Street), Gaelen Foley (The Pirate Prince trilogy) and Julia Quinn (The Bridgerton Series)fan. They write touching, romantic historical romances that can hardly be topped and not for one minute did I ever think I would read this book and have to find everything else she's written because it was so amazing. But I ordered her other two books from Amazon last night. Her characters, her story line, the dialogue, everything about this book was good. Ryan was the perfect, sexy, irrestible, powerful hero and Rachel was the perfect heroine. The scene by the copse of trees near the Rathdrum project was my absolute favorite. He's engaged to someone else. But he's wanted her for years. She's got secrets in her past that could ruin him. But she wants him too. "Do we continue the same old dance Rache? Or do we sin?" All in all, a perfect book and I can't wait to read the other two. This was a breath of fresh air in my continuing search for the perfect love story.
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