Whisper of Scandal (Scandalous Women of the Ton Trilogy) [Mass Market Paperback]

Nicola Cornick (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Everyone in England believes David was a hero, but his wife Joanna knows the truth. She was always being abandoned by her late husband while he explored the North Pole or embarrassed by his numerous affairs. Alex knows David was a hero because David saved his life. Alex also knows better than to believe anything David’s widow says, because his friend’s dying words were to never trust his deceitful wife. Keeping their distance is easy to do, until a codicil to David’s will is found, which announces that Joanna and Alex have been appointed joint guardians of a child no one knew David had with a Russian woman. As the two travel north, they quickly discover their irresistible passion for each is strong enough to melt the ice at the North Pole. In the first in a beguiling new trilogy, Cornick gives the Regency historical a deliciously fresh twist with her sexy tale of daring explorers, bold women, and the uncharted dangers of the frozen North. --John Charles

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books; Original edition (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373774400
• ISBN-13: 978-0373774401
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #494,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > British > Historical
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Regency

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good and different HR read. Way to go, Ms Cornick!, October 8, 2010

By 

Old Latin teacher (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Whisper of Scandal (Scandalous Women of the Ton Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

What's different is the setting. Half the book takes place NOT in London, but rather on a ship destined for an island off the coast of Norway or on that island itself. In other words, not your usual house party or ballroom scenes. The romance itself is not that unusual, but it's well written and developed by Cornick, with two very flawed people (especially the heroine) who work through their differences without annoying TSTL behaviour. The secondary characters are also well-developed, real people, neither too evil nor too wonderful.

The heroine, Lady Joanna Ware, widow of the famous explorer David Ware, is a complex character. David and Joanna had been married for 10 years before his death, but had been estranged for more than half that time. David was a serial womanizer and in addition was abusive to Joanna. Joanna learns to cope and protect herself by adopting a persona that at first glance seems superficial and frivolous.

Hero Alex Grant was a friend of and fellow explorer with Joanna's late husband. David had saved his life on occasion and Alex chose to look upon David as a man to be admired. Since David had often disparaged Joanna to Alex, Alex did not have a good opinion of her.

So there you have the premise of the romance: Joanna too proud to reveal the problems she had with David, and Alex prejudiced against Joanna. Joanna, IMO, is a bit more flawed than Alex. She is too tuned into the superficial, needing to look good at all times and spending hours to achieve that look. She is also not honest with Alex about something she knew was very important to him. The difficulties in her life have made her self-protective and, seemingly, self-centered. Alex, of course, is not without his flaws. He uses his exploring to distance himself from others. He is also quick to make judgments and seems a bit inflexible. You'll understand the 'why' of this as you get into his history.

But, in addition to the developing romance, you do have a story about the trip to the Arctic Circle. Why they are going there, what happens there. It all makes for an interesting and different romance. It's one of Ms Cornick's better recent HRs.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is not a whisper of amazing but a shout out of greatness, September 28, 2010

By 

Mary J. Gramlich "The Reading Reviewer" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whisper of Scandal (Scandalous Women of the Ton Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is not a whisper of amazing but a shout out of greatness

Is it possible for two people to have been involved another's life and see this individual so totally differently? Can a person be a saint to one and a sinner to the other - absolutely, in the case of one David Ware.

His widow Lady Joanna saw the man and her life with him as cold, desolate and at times brutal. His best friend Alexander, Lord Grant saw an explorer, hero and the greatest example of what one can accomplish in life with hard work and adventuresome spirit. Joanna never felt love for this match but despised that he blamed her for their lack of children and made no pains to disguise his infidelity and outright betrayal of her trust. Alex has nothing but disdain for Joanna and feels that all the words of evil that David spoke are true and cannot see any redeeming factors surrounding her or the lavish lifestyle she leads. He sees her as frivolous and taking full advantage of the tidy sum David left his widow. But peeling back an onion reveals numerous layers does it not?

By fate, circumstance and responsibility are out of control for both Joanna and Alex's as they are forced to face each other and come to a compromise of sorts as it seems David is still manipulating both of them from the grave. With Alex a part of David's extended life and best friend David gave Alex the responsibility of handling his estate and carrying out his final wishes which he never thought included Joanna and a sea adventure. So by bad luck Alex is forced to Seal the Deal with Joanna and while both of them stand their ground about how David was in their individual lives and fight every time they share space they do agree to the terms that were set aside in the codicil even if it involves sailing to The Arctic to retrieve what David so carelessly left behind.

But the more time Alex spends with Joanna the more he comes to see her as the greatest of temptations and less the vixen he had thought her to be. She is warm, loving and cares for those who are less fortunate. Her kisses are all too soon melting his heart and turning up his passion for not just any woman but this woman that he at first thought a frivolous. But Joanna is strong and just as full of the lust for him as he has for her and shows him that in preconceived notations some turn out to be very untrue. The adventure aboard the Sea Witch shows both of them what they are made of how important they are to one another. They each tear down the other's walls of despair and prior guilt to burn up the nights with a flame that comes from no candle but instead from deep inside their being.

With every Nicola Cornick book you know you are in for a wonderful read and a most enjoyable adventure. This book and adventure in no way disappoint and in fact make it so you start reading slower just to not have the book come to an end. The writing style is lush and with each page you know that there are two characters that jump out at you and many background characters that are not there to just fill space but bring life to the story. Thank you Nicola for another beautiful reading adventure.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong Regency romance, October 2, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whisper of Scandal (Scandalous Women of the Ton Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1811 Navy Captain Alex Grant visits Lady Joanna Ware, the widow of his late best friend David to offer his condolences. His only regret was the mission to find a North East trade route through the North Pole kept him from doing so eighteen months ago when David died on that quest. However, he is stunned to see some miscreant demanding she consider his suit.

Joanna greets Alex by calling him darling and gives him a welcome home kiss. Both are stunned by the reaction in light of the fact they never liked each other. Each has mixed feelings between desiring more kisses and wanting to run away from each other. However, keeping away from each other is not an option as they must journey to the Arctic to bring her stepdaughter home.

The Arctic trek brings a fascinating fresh subplot to a strong Regency romance starring a widow and widower who from that first searing kiss know they loathe yet desire each other. The lead couple is a wonderful match as each has preconceptions of the other based on their respective relationship to David. Fast-paced whether it is London or the Arctic, sub-genre fans will relish this entertaining historical.

Harriet Klausner