Customer Reviews

Scandal

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After reading the earlier reviews for "Scandal," I just had to add my two cents worth, because it seems that the other two reviewers and I did not read the same book. I have enjoyed Heather Cullman's other stories and looked forward with great anticipation to this one, but it was only so-so. Part of the problem was a very tired and at times implausible plot-line: Gideon Harwood, a wealthy nabob newly returned to England from India, agrees to wed a spoiled aristocratic beauty, Lady Julia Barham, in order to advance his stature in society. How many times have we read this all before, including in Jacqueline Navin's newest novel, "The Bliss"? Unfortunately, there is nothing fresh in Ms. Cullman's telling of the story. Ms. Cullman's "twist" is that Gideon is persuaded to become engaged to Lady Julia by her father, Lord Stanwell. Gideon has discovered that Lord Stanwell is a bigamist and that Julia is therefore illegitimate, and Stanwell uses a kind of reverse blackmail to persuade Gideon to keep quiet about his discovery in exchange for Julia's hand. The problem with this "twist" is that it just does not work. Gideon is the kind of "straight-arrow" who would not have publicized Stanwell's secret anyway, so Stanwell has nothing to gain by allying his daughter with someone who is socially well beneath Stanwell's family. In addition to the tired plot, this story is also filled with some pretty dull characters. Gideon is a likeable but fairly nondescript hero, and Julia is mostly insufferably haughty for three-quarters of the book. The two have nothing in common, and there is no real spark of wit or passion between them. The secondary characters, including Julia's father and mother, Julia's circle of friends, and Gideon's two sisters (one of whom is named "Bliss," a true 19th century name if I ever heard one!) are "one note" cardboard stick figures that never really came to life for me. The dialogue is tedious, with the two main characters spending most of the time fighting with each other and engaging in "misunderstandings." Usually, the dialogue is the best part of any book, but I found myself skipping over it in this story, as the characters had a tendency to drone on about nothing. You know that an author has lost control of the dialogue when she has to have her characters frequently say, "but I digress...", after they have rambled on far too long about something that is tangential to the story at best. "Scandal" seems to come together a little better at the end, once the characters discover that they love each other, but it then becomes a case of "too little, too late" to save this book from the "I'll never read this one again" shelf.

In 1798, after twelve years making a fortune in India, commoner Gideon Harwood returns home to help his family. Though he has his two sisters at hand, Gideon's brother Caleb is missing. Lady Stanwell informs Gideon she has pertinent information involving Caleb, but when he visits her she is dead from an accidental fall. Gideon visits the grieving Lord Stanwell, but he offers nothing, as he has no idea what his deceased wife knew.

In London, Gideon runs into Lord Stanwell, catching him in a scandalous situation. To insure he gains Gideon's silence, Stanwell bribes him with the hand of his daughter in marriage and entrance amidst the Ton for his sisters. Gideon agrees to marry Lady Julia, currently in her third season and the recipient of twelve proposals all rejected as she plans to wed for love, on the condition that she pretends to love him in public. Given no choice, Julia and Gideon marry, but that sham turns into real thing if the commoner and the lady can learn to trust in the love of their partner.

SCANDAL is an enjoyable Regency romance with a twist not often seen in the genre. The story line contains delightful subplots to include the snail game, Gideon's investigation for his missing sibling, Stanwell's secret, and other pleasant foibles. Gideon's dilemma is intriguing. He fears telling Julia the secret about her father because he thinks that could end their relationship; yet he panics over not revealing it to her for fear if she learns the truth elsewhere that would end their relationship. Heather Cullman entertains the troops with this wonderful historical.

Harriet Klausner

Set in England, 1798.

Gideon Harwood returned from India. With the wealth he had accumulated, he planned to use it and everything else he could to help raise the station of his two impoverished sisters and locate his missing brother. He stumbled upon a shocking secret about the Marquess of Stanwell. To silence Gideon, the marquess offered a bargain, his daughter's hand in marriage. Normally Gideon's honor would rebel; however, marriage to the lovely Lady Julia Barham would open the Ton's doors for his sisters. Thus, Gideon swallowed his honor and agreed ... but only if Lady Julia convinced everyone that the marriage was a love match!

The Marquess never agreed to inform Julia of WHY he was forcing her to do the bargain. No, he made up a terrible lie, putting the blame on Gideon. To save her family (she thought), she had no choice but to wed the commoner and pretend to love him. Yet she planned to make sure he had no doubts as to how much she really loathed him!

***** That is the main plot. To tell the secret or the lie would ruin a good portion, so I left them out. For the sake of length, I left out the secondary characters as well.

I will state that Julia's siblings are wonderful, the mean aunt is the type readers love to hate, and Gideon's sisters have had it hard, so Julia had her work cut out for her in helping them!

To spice things up, on an already fabulous story, author Heather Cullman added an odd pet (like Laura Kinsale always did), and side kick. Gideon's personal attendant was from India. Jagtar was a tall and menacing sight to behold! He even kept a lethal-looking dagger tucked into his waist sash. The wicked image, however, becomes comical as readers enjoy Jagtar's pet, a slow loris! A slow loris is "an owl-eyed primate" with almost human hands and a taste for fruit. The pair stole the scene a few time!

This is the first of a Regency trilogy. I have no clue as to who the main characters will be in the next book. Personally, I am hoping for Lady Mina (one of Julia's friends) and Bethany (Gideon's oldest sister).

Pre-order this book whenever you can or mark your calendar! To miss a book THIS great is a sin! Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

Lady Julia marries rich but common Gideon to save her family from financial ruin. It's all a lie, though. Her family was never facing financial ruin, it was just a story concocted by her father. So that is Big Misunderstanding #1.

Gideon agrees to marry Julia because her father talks him into it. Even though he doesn't much like her. She is so desperate to wed him, she tries to be a perfect lady. Which he hates because it is perfectly dull. So that is Big Misunderstanding #2.

Gideon's reasons for marrying Lady Julia are not clear. He says it is so his sisters will have the advantages of entry into the ton, but he actually hates the ton and he never takes his sisters to town, and they wouldn't fit in even if he did, so who knows? He tries to call the whole thing off, but then he sees Julia crying in the park and he feels sorry for her so he marries her. Good plan, that.

Julia receives a bunch of bad advice about marital relations and bungles the wedding night and the two of them don't speak to each other for weeks. That would be Big Misunderstanding #3.

Finally by the end of the book they settle their difference and boink their brains out. And some of the loose ends are cleared up, like what happened to Gideon's missing baby brother. And some other loose ends are not cleared up, like who got Gideon's sister pregnant. And why don't Julia's parents want their other kids back, including their only son and heir. And why didn't her evil father get his well-deserved come-uppance? He really deserved it.

So it's all sort of a mish-mash, with some well-written parts, and some really long parts that don't go anywhere. Not a bad book, exactly, but not really a very good one either.

The very wealthy Gideon Harwood returned to England after an absence of close to ten years. He had been forcibly taken from England; pressed into the navy; later escaped and vowed to not return until he had the means to make a better life for his mother and siblings. Upon his return, it was to find his younger brother missing, mother dead, and both his sister's in dire circumstances trying to survive. While searching for his brother, Gideon accidentally discovered a secret of one of the leading members of the ton, Lord Stanwell. Thinking Gideon would ruin him, Stanwell offered him acceptance into society by offering him his daughter's hand in marriage. Gideon never thought to marry, nor was he overly impressed with the Lady Julia, Stanwell's daughter - but the thought of having his dear sisters accepted by society with the chance of making advantageous marriages convinced him that he would accept the offer only upon the condition that Lady Julia convince the ton that it was a love match.

Lord Stanwell, being an unscrupulous rat, convinced Julia that Gideon was a dishonorable cheat but that she `must' marry this commoner for the sake of her family who would be ruined and destitute by Gideon if she refused him. Julia believing the lies told to her by her father would do as he asked - for the sake of her siblings. She would play the part of the love sick Miss in front of the ton, but in private she would trade insults and show her disdain for Gideon. She knew she should hate him, but horror of horrors, why did he have to be so handsome and nice!

This was an engaging and intelligent regency romance - although if there had been a bit more romance and a little less antagonism between our two main protagonists I would have rated this higher as the sensuality was very well written and expressed. The plot was quite interesting; I thoroughly enjoyed the little tidbits of history with regard to the telling of the young ladies `snail game'. The numerous secondary characters were very interesting and I heartily look forward to and hope for sequels that will tell us who Gideon's friend Christian really is as well as a possible story for his hoyden sister `Bliss'. This is a book I do recommend with some very inspiring dialog - for some very cleverly worded insults - very enjoyable

SCANDAL is the first book by Heather Cullman I have read and I was delighted to receive this advanced reading copy with a beautiful pink bow encasing the papers. After reading this story, I truly feel as if I was given a gift.
Rich in history and culture of late 18th Century England, I found myself immersed and completely enraptured by this story. This regency romance, supported by brilliant characterizations and characters motivated by the love of their siblings, is both believable and captivating.

Gideon Harwood, a commoner who has recently returned from India as a self-made wealthy man is in search of his lost brother. Discovering a secret about London's most influential aristocrats, Lord Stanwell, he finds himself bribed for his silence. Desiring proper acceptance and social standing for his siblings, Gideon finds himself engaged to Lord Stanwell's very proper daughter, Lady Julia. Lady Julia, having no say in the matter, is told she must make it appear a love match for Gideon Harwood to truly be accepted into society.

Proper society and rigid social etiquette gives way to a lusty and passionate love affair. Prepare yourself to fall in love with this wonderful story by Ms. Cullman. I look forward to reading more of her books, and feel Ms. Cullman is a true star of the historical romance genre, capturing all elements necessary to make it a wonderful experience for the reader.

***** This book will appeal both to regency and to historical fans, as it contains elements of both. While Julia at first seems to be a bit of proud fluff, she develops into a woman who can recognize the worth of a person, no matter what their social standing. Gideon is a bit more difficult to love, with his almost hypocrital desire for the society he shuns, yet he is very sexy. His sisters though, are fascinating and hopefully will merit their own books in the future. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

In 1798, after twelve years making a fortune in India, commoner Gideon Harwood returns home to help his family. Though he has his two sisters at hand, Gideon's brother Caleb is missing. Lady Stanwell informs Gideon she has pertinent information involving Caleb, but when he visits her she is dead from an accidental fall. Gideon visits the grieving Lord Stanwell, but he offers nothing, as he has no idea what his deceased wife knew.

In London, Gideon runs into Lord Stanwell, catching him in a scandalous situation. To insure he gains Gideon's silence, Stanwell bribes him with the hand of his daughter in marriage and entrance amidst the Ton for his sisters. Gideon agrees to marry Lady Julia, currently in her third season and the recipient of twelve proposals all rejected as she plans to wed for love, on the condition that she pretends to love him in public. Given no choice, Julia and Gideon marry, but that sham turns into real thing if the commoner and the lady can learn to trust in the love of their partner.

SCANDAL is an enjoyable Regency romance with a twist not often seen in the genre. The story line contains delightful subplots to include the snail game, Gideon's investigation for his missing sibling, Stanwell's secret, and other pleasant foibles. Gideon's dilemma is intriguing. He fears telling Julia the secret about her father because he thinks that could end their relationship; yet he panics over not revealing it to her for fear if she learns the truth elsewhere that would end their relationship. Heather Cullman entertains the troops with this wonderful historical.

Harriet Klausner

Press-ganged into the British Navy at nineteen, Gideon Harwood escaped in India, where he proceeded to make a fortune as a mercenary. Returning a decade later to England, Gideon discovers his family has fallen on hard times. His mother is dead, his younger brother Caleb is missing, and his sisters are living in poverty in London's slums. Guilt-stricken at not returning sooner to prevent these tragedies, Gideon swears to find his brother and provide the very best life for his sisters.

While following a lead on Caleb, Gideon discovers a scandalous secret about Gilbert Barham, the Marquess of Stanwell. Seeking to buy his silence, the marquess makes an offer that Gilbert is hard-pressed to refuse -- his daughter Julia's hand in marriage and an entree to London society for Gideon and his sisters. Knowing he is making a deal with the devil, Gideon agrees after remembering his vow to raise his family's station. However, one of his conditions is that their courtship must appear to look like a love match. The marquess agrees and says he will take care of the details.

Lady Julia Barham is in the midst of her third season and is feeling the pressure to marry from her parents. Unwilling to settle for less than love, Julia is also leery of leaving her younger siblings unprotected from the tyranny of their Aunt Aurelia, who acts as their governess. Knowing her stubbornness, the marquess uses Julia's love of her younger siblings to force her into the betrothal. He lies to Julia, telling her the only way to save the family from scandal and ruin is to pretend to fall in love with and marry Gideon Harwood. But can a marriage built on lies and deception overcome the odds?

The first in a new trilogy from Heather Cullman, SCANDAL is an engrossing tale. In this union brought about by blackmail and trickery, Gideon and Julia are quick to jump to conclusions about each other which only lead to further misunderstandings. However, that human fallacy only endears them to readers, who are hooked into reading further to see what will happen next. The rest of the characters fit their typical roles -- the siblings (both his and hers) are adorable, her father is manipulative and scheming, and her aunt is the wicked witch out of a Grimm's fairy tale. With several story lines left unresolved, this story sets the stage for the rest of the series.

TheSchemer

Greed for a greater fortune kept Gideon Harwood toiling beneath the hot Indian sun long after he should have set sail for England and been reunited with his siblings. Wealth is naught but an empty husk without a family to share it with, after all -- and such was Gideon's ultimate goal: to provide financial security for Bethany, Bliss and his brother Caleb. He has returned to England too late, however, to protect his family from poverty's greedy grasp, and the desperate decisions one must make when confronted by so hopeless a situation.

His sisters' innocence has been lost, and his brother has disappeared into the ether, leaving scant clues behind him. Gideon's guilt over this situation is nearly unbearable, and will drive him to make a deal with the devil, his honor be damned! Revisiting the village of his birth (in search of clues regarding Caleb's disappearance) is the catalyst for the black events to follow. Gideon unwittingly discovers an ugly secret about Lord Stanwell, you see, an influential peer of the realm who has weighty ties to the ton.

In exchange for Gideon's silence, his lordship is willing to provide the wealthy commoner with entrée into London society, and thus, respectability -- something Gideon dearly craves for his beautiful sister, Bethany, who has suffered so much. To perpetuate this lie, however, Gideon must marry Lord Stanwell's daughter, Lady Julia, a milk and water miss who sets his teeth on edge. His tolerance for her missish airs is almost negligible, but there is a banked spark of mischief in Julia's fine brandy eyes, and a kindness to her gaze that bodes well for the treatment of his younger siblings.

Heather Cullman's descriptive prose weaves a tangled web in this spirited historical romance, where lies, half-truths and misconceptions muddy an already muddled courtship, and put the hero and heroine on the defensive. Attraction is a mighty force, however: Scandal is a love story that gradually evolves out of a series of awkward, messy and unfortunate misunderstandings that are only worsened by a lack of communication and the interference of well-meaning -- and yes, selfishly absorbed -- third parties.

Although they have much in common, Gideon and Julia are initially blind to these shared traits, preferring to nurse their individual feelings of frustration and helplessness. Love for one's family can motivate one to act in a wholly uncharacteristic way, and in essence, sacrifice one's own happiness and future well being. Unfortunately, snap judgments are all too easily formed from such touchy and regrettably irritable behavior. So instead of seeing the parallels in their situations for what they truly are, they see an enemy to vanquish, a marriage to endure, a martyrdom to embrace...And standing between Gideon, Julia and that all important moment of epiphany is a mountain of pride, and the rippling undercurrents of a scandalous secret.

Yes, their floundering relationship is shaky and tempestuous at times, but once reconciliatory steps are taken -- and the hero and heroine's blinders are removed -- readers' bones will melt into a limpid pool. But is this a case of too little, too late? Ms. Cullman's characterizations are aloof and splendidly arrogant by degrees, but such high and mighty mannerisms are naught but a smoke screen. Look beyond it and you'll find vibrant, likeable characters aching for love, acceptance, stability and the warmth of home and hearth. All frivolous frustrations aside, Scandal is a romance novel confident of its path, plot and meaning, and positively shimmers with a delicious self-awareness.

Reviewed by C.L. Jeffries