Customer Reviews

Nothing But Scandal (Zebra Debut)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just had to write a review and let people know how much I enjoyed this book. It was a wonderful debut for author Allegra Gray and I look forward to reading more from her in the future. I thought the characters were just wonderful. The chemistry between Elizabeth and Alex was just sizzling off the page. I love a hero who rides to the rescue too. The secondary characters of Charity , Elizabeth's sister and Bea, her widowed friend were very entertaining and I can't wait to read their stories. A highly recommended read.

Normally, I wouldn't post a review even though I did not like this book. I wanted to warn other buyers that the glowing reviews posted by others were not universal. Boy, did I not like this book! The plot was formulaic, and, even though I think an attempt was made to be different, this attempt failed. The characters of the Duke and Miss Medford were irritating with the same standard set of "problems", i.e. the Duke is a thoughtless rake who only needs the love of a good woman to fix him right up, and the lady was simply unable to control herself around the Duke throwing off any sense of propriety or (basic) good manners. Never mind that her behavior is against everything the girl was raised to believe, she simple is "powerless".

** spoilers **

The wedding takes place ~75% into the book which raised my interest wondering if the author was attempting some kind of "What happens after the King marries the peasant girl?". Instead, the book attempts for tension by having the new Duchess question the integrity of her husband. Her odd behavior (ridiculous really) leads the Duke to believe she has been/will be unfaithful. Why? Because, the Duke must also be "in the wrong" to make her lack of trust acceptable to the reader and believe in their eventual reconciliation ("two wrongs make a marriage"). It's a common irrational method, weak authors use, to fill out an already thin book.

** end spoilers **

I am a huge fan of regency romances, and I'll buy these low cost books from first time authors, to try to catch a rising star. Generally, I've been happily surprised by the quality of these books and the new take on this genre. Unfortunately, "Nothing But Scandal" fails to bring anything new or appealing.

"Nothing But Scandal" is the first book by Allegra Gray. It's a charming historical with passion and a bit of intrigue and I found it a fairly quick read.

Elizabeth Medford's father died recently, leaving her and the rest of the family broke. Although she's always been the dependable one, she just can't quite bring herself to willingly wed her despicable distant cousin Wetherby. He's cruel and seems to enjoy her fear and hurt. He only wants to marry her to improve his standing in society, so Elizabeth decides to ruin herself quite publicly, therefore taking herself out of his sights. But the rake she chooses just won't cooperate!

Alex, Duke of Beaufort, can't get the beautiful Medford chit out of his thoughts. Was she actually serious about ruining herself? Or was her suggestion another piece of her late father's plot? Unfortunately, the more he sees of her, the more he realizes she is just the Duchess he's been looking for...if they can avoid yet more scandal.

Not the most memorable historical, but for a first book I was much entertained. Allegra Gray is, for me, an author to keep an eye on as she gains experience.

The book started off slow and I skipped multiple pages. I was really put off when the Hero thought how little in common he had with the heroine. What? Well how are we supposed to believe that he falls in love with her, when it is apparent that all he does is lust for her? Then, after the Hero rescues the woman and married her, the Heroine can't even ask him * SPOLER ALERT** if he was involved in her father's death or not! She acknowledges that he must care for her.. but still the contrived doubt and then the BIG misunderstanding were just so ridiculous. The sex scenes were not that great either. I don't think I will buy a book from this author again, and I plan on donating it to the library instead of keeping it for my collection.

Nothing but Scandal really tries to be more than a formulaic romance, at times it succeeds but mostly it falls into a predictable storyline. What really could have elevated this romance would be more heartfelt and interesting scenes between the leads.

Elizabeth Medford is in a real pickle, she is being forced by her family to marry a rich commoner who has absolutely nothing to recommend him. Elizabeth figures the best way out of her predicament is to ruin herself and she chooses Alex, the Duke of Medford as the man to do the deed. She propositions him and he says no.

Alex has a past with Elizabeth's deceased father. (This could have been a much more interesting angle in the story but it never really came to play fully until the end of the novel.) Elizabeth is devastated by Alex's rejection and also unaware of his past association with her father. She ends up being hired as a governess by Alex's sister to escape her manipulative family.

Alex cannot believe it is a coincidence that Elizabeth is governess to his niece and nephew and instantly questions her motives. He does not question them long though as he is more attracted to Elizabeth than ever before. He knows he must marry one day but Elizabeth is not even on his potential list of brides all due to his past with her father.

There are misunderstandings, kidnappings, and scandals in this novel, but no real depth or peril in any of the situations. I liked Elizabeth until the final chapters (she acts a bit inconsistently toward the end of the novel) and hero Alex was a decent chap albeit a little too suspicious. The writing is not bad; in fact there are some well written scenes, especially the intimate ones between Alex and Elizabeth. These are very sensual. This was neither the worst nor the best novel I have read this year; it hums along at a steady pace but never really revs up and takes off.

Elizabeth's family is forcing her to marry an evil little man named Harold Wetherby. Elizabeth decided that if she is ruined that Harold won't want to marry her. So she approaches Alex Bainbridge, Duke of Beaufort but he refuses. Then Elizabeth goes from one plan to the next to save herself that marriage... Alex and Elizabeth life is intertwined through out the story - lost of romance and great plot... Enjoy!

Looking forward her second book Nothing But Deception-- due out Aug 3, 2010.

On the surface this novel looked like a good buy. It had a low price and several 5 star reviews.

By two thirds of the way into the book, however, I discovered the error of my thinking. The book plodded along and became quite tedious with mundane descriptions. Probably the hardest skill to master in novel writing is setting the scene. Most writers compensate by keeping this aspect brief. Not so in this case.

The lead female character Elizabeth, also became the dominant voice of the novel and increasingly irritating. Why do so many intelligent females (we are told so - so it must be true) act so stupidly?

The moral voice of the book was also questionable. Scandal was silenced through lying. Whilst there is no love for the ton, they are pandered to. Debts to creditors are not settled (I take it that the sisters benefitted from the excessive spending of their father) and traders left possibly bankrupt even having the affrontary to seek payment in person. Yet there is always money for frocks and hats and jewels etc. But of course the duke shouldn't have to settle his dead father-in-laws debts after he worked so hard for it, or should I say won it at cards.

Well, as long as the ton are bowing and scraping and making her feel important, why bother about the little people.

I expect more from the leading characters. I expected more from this book. I won't be buying the next in the series.

Nothing But Scandal was a good book. On an overall basis, the book was entertaining. The book starts off with the indecent proposition made by the maiden to the most notorious rake of a duke that was definitely eye catching. It was interesting to see how the relationship unveiled itself for the two individuals. It's a riches to rags story and of course back to riches for the girl as she marries the extremely wealthy duke 75% into the book. Unfortunately, the author does fail to be a bit realistic when the maiden is kidnapped by a scorned suitor & distant cousin just weeks before the lovers' marriage for the lame reason that the maiden's family connections will help him rise up the ranks when her reputation had already been ruined by her rumored involvement with the Duke. The author further attempts to portray the villain into a vile human being that starves and beats the maiden while in captivity until she is rescued at the church altar by the Duke himself. The Duke proposes to the maiden; however they must set her reputation straight by lengthening the betrothal another couple of weeks in order to reinstate the maiden into respectable society. Later after the marriage, the Duke seeks to financially ruin the vile suitor which ends into the villain's accidental death. With all the circumstantial events taking place, the heroine begins to doubt her Duke, but she always came back to knowing that their love is great and contradicts her emotional position on the Duke, which is extremely unrealistic and hence the reason why the heroine's behavior has been so questionable to the Duke. It seems that the author was not left with either enough time or plot after the two lovers marry and thus weakening the story's ending. The suspenseful events were entertaining, including the dialog between the main characters. The dialog with her best friend Bea is a bit irritating as although being married herself, this character came out a bit naive and inexperienced and hence very unrealistic. However, it was a good love story between the awkward maid and a duke and their romance was given good detail.

This book has it all! Mystery,suspense and,of course, Lots of delicious romance! I can't wait for the next book of hers. This was a fun book to read and hard to put down!

Allegra Gray has created a great world to get lost in...London 1814 and a love that blooms from a scandalous incident. Every woman needs an Alex Bainbridge to warm her thoughts on a chilly summer night. I loved this book and can't wait for the next adventure by Allegra Gray. Please don't make me wait to long...