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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
julie2525's review
3.0
cute and creative
undercover work, fake relationship, forced proximity, house party, working together, family dynamics and drama
undercover work, fake relationship, forced proximity, house party, working together, family dynamics and drama
witandsin's review
3.0
Ten years ago, Anthony Westfield, Viscount Somerton, lost his innocence and nearly destroyed the life of another in the process. Since then, he has become a jaded, closed-off, infamous rake. The only love he feels is for his mother and sisters and the only guilt he ever experiences is over the way he treated a nameless young woman that long ago night he became disillusioned. Anthony’s world is knocked off its axis when he meets that very woman once more…and she picks his pocket!
Victoria Seaton has created a new life for herself these past ten years. One where she cares for orphans and occasionally must pick a pocket or two to fund her orphanage. She is shocked, however, to find that the man whose pocket she just picked is not only the brother of one of her friends, but the man who could have ruined her a decade ago. Yet Somerton is nothing like the young man she remembers. He’s cold, calculating, and when he discovers her thievery, bribes her to aid him on a secret government mission. He’ll give her an unheard of amount of money for her orphanage, but in exchange, she must pose as his mistress for a week at a holiday country party. Victoria agrees, but swears she will only be his mistress in name only. But close quarters, a tumultuous past, and sizzling passion weaken Victoria’s resolve and strengthen the bond between her and Anthony.
Christmas is a time for miracles. Will Victoria and Anthony find that greatest miracle of all: love?
Scandalous secrets, intrigue, forgiveness, and desire all come together in the lovely Scandal of the Season. I admit, for the first half of the book I was somewhat concerned with how Christie Kelley would bring Victoria and Anthony together. Both have been so wounded by the past that the pain of their emotional scars threatens to overwhelm the story, but in a way that frustrated me as a reader, rather than made me empathize with them. The first half of Scandal of the Season contains quite a bit of one step forward, two steps back. However, stick with Scandal of the Season because the second half of the book is vastly more entertaining. The real emotional connection between Anthony and Victoria develops, not to mention the element of danger from Anthony’s mission finally becomes real. The second half of Scandal of the Season zipped along and captured my attention one hundred percent. The outcome of the story may be somewhat predictable, but there’s comfort in the resolution all the same.
Scandal of the Season can be read as a standalone, but the heroes and heroines of Ms. Kelley’s previous novels all appear. I will say, having not read Ms. Kelley’s books before, that I definitely want to read Victoria’s friends’ stories (Every Night I’m Yours, Every Time We Kiss, and Something Scandalous). In addition, Ms. Kelley finishes Scandal of the Season with a delightful tease for Victoria’s only unmarried friend – Anthony’s half-sister, the renowned mystic and matchmaker Sophie.
While Victoria and Anthony didn’t knock me off my feet, Scandal of the Season was still a solidly entertaining read. The secondary characters captivated me more than Scandal of the Season’s protagonists, which may not be a wonderful thing, but I was still pleased by it, for I now have three more books (and a fourth if, as I hope, Ms. Kelley writes Sophie’s story) that I am looking forward to reading.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Victoria Seaton has created a new life for herself these past ten years. One where she cares for orphans and occasionally must pick a pocket or two to fund her orphanage. She is shocked, however, to find that the man whose pocket she just picked is not only the brother of one of her friends, but the man who could have ruined her a decade ago. Yet Somerton is nothing like the young man she remembers. He’s cold, calculating, and when he discovers her thievery, bribes her to aid him on a secret government mission. He’ll give her an unheard of amount of money for her orphanage, but in exchange, she must pose as his mistress for a week at a holiday country party. Victoria agrees, but swears she will only be his mistress in name only. But close quarters, a tumultuous past, and sizzling passion weaken Victoria’s resolve and strengthen the bond between her and Anthony.
Christmas is a time for miracles. Will Victoria and Anthony find that greatest miracle of all: love?
Scandalous secrets, intrigue, forgiveness, and desire all come together in the lovely Scandal of the Season. I admit, for the first half of the book I was somewhat concerned with how Christie Kelley would bring Victoria and Anthony together. Both have been so wounded by the past that the pain of their emotional scars threatens to overwhelm the story, but in a way that frustrated me as a reader, rather than made me empathize with them. The first half of Scandal of the Season contains quite a bit of one step forward, two steps back. However, stick with Scandal of the Season because the second half of the book is vastly more entertaining. The real emotional connection between Anthony and Victoria develops, not to mention the element of danger from Anthony’s mission finally becomes real. The second half of Scandal of the Season zipped along and captured my attention one hundred percent. The outcome of the story may be somewhat predictable, but there’s comfort in the resolution all the same.
Scandal of the Season can be read as a standalone, but the heroes and heroines of Ms. Kelley’s previous novels all appear. I will say, having not read Ms. Kelley’s books before, that I definitely want to read Victoria’s friends’ stories (Every Night I’m Yours, Every Time We Kiss, and Something Scandalous). In addition, Ms. Kelley finishes Scandal of the Season with a delightful tease for Victoria’s only unmarried friend – Anthony’s half-sister, the renowned mystic and matchmaker Sophie.
While Victoria and Anthony didn’t knock me off my feet, Scandal of the Season was still a solidly entertaining read. The secondary characters captivated me more than Scandal of the Season’s protagonists, which may not be a wonderful thing, but I was still pleased by it, for I now have three more books (and a fourth if, as I hope, Ms. Kelley writes Sophie’s story) that I am looking forward to reading.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
destinugrainy's review against another edition
4.0
Somerton mendapatkan nama seorang wanita dari Sophie, cenayang sekaligus matchmaker sekaligus salah satu angota Spinster Club. Ternyata nama itu adalah nama gadis yang dicari-cari oleh Somerton selama 10 tahun. Gadis yang bernama Anne Smith.
Flashback 10 tahun yg lalu, Anthony Somerton baru saja merayakan ulang tahunnya yang ke 18. Nicholas dan Trey, kawannya, mengajaknya pergi ke brothel untuk merasakan pengalaman pertamanya dengan seorang wanita. Bukannya dapat hiburan dari wanita, dia malah menemukan ibunya, Lady Whitely yang dikiranya telah meninggal adalah pemilik brothel tersebut. Somerton pergi dalam keadaan mabuk. Di tangga dekat gereja, dia bertemu dengan seorang gadis penjual jeruk yang sudah beberapa waktu lamanya ditaksir oleh Somerton. Di tangga itu, Somerton mengambil keperawanan si gadis. Sepuluh tahun lamanya, Somerton hidup dalam perasaan bersalah karena menganggap dirinya telah memperkosa gadis tersebut. Untuk itu dia meminta bantuan Sophie untuk menemukan gadis itu. Ohya, ternyata Somerton dan Sophie itu saudara tiri.
Victoria Seaton (a.k.a Anne Smith) tinggal di sebelah brothel milik Lady Whitely. Dia mengasuh beberapa anak yatim piatu yang ditinggalkan oleh wanita yang hamil di luar pernikahan. Hidupnya selama ini sangat menyedihkan, dia bahkan kadang mencopet untuk kelangsungan hidupnya. Teman2nya di Spinster Club tidak ada yang tahu soal itu. Suatu hari, di acara Lady Selby, Victoria mencopet sebuah kalung dari Somerton. Ketika Somerton tahu siapa yang mengambil kalung miliknya, dia membuat perhitungan dengan Victoria. Terutama setelah dia tahu Victoria adalah Anne yang dicarinya selama ini.
Somerton sendiri ternyata sering bekerja pada pemerintah sebagai agen rahasia. Kali ini tugasnya mencari tahu sesuatu hal yang berkaitan dengan rencana pembunuhan pangeran kerajaan. Untuk itu dia harus menghadiri sebuah pesta natal, dan dia membutuhkan mistress sebagai pendamping. Dia pun meminta Victoria berpura-pura sebagai mistress, dan memberi sejumlah uang sebagai imbalan, serta tidak memperpanjang kasus pencurian kalung tadi. Victoria setuju.
Baik Victoria maupun Somerton sebenarnya telah saling menyukai sejak 10 tahun yang lalu. Victoria sendir tidak menganggap Somerton pernah memperkosanya, karena secara sadar dia memang ingin menyerahkan dirinya pertama kali untuk Somerton. Kali ini dengan berpura2 menjadi mistress, sekali lagi dia berdekatan dengan Somerton. Meski awalnya sama2 gengsi dan keras kepala, akhirnya keduanya tidak bisa menahan passion yang ada di antara mereka.
Menariknya, Victoria jadi terlibat dalam kasus yang sedang dikerjakan oleh Somerton. Kasus yang akhirnya membuat Victoria hampir kehilangan nyawanya. Selain itu, konflik keluarga Somerton punya kisah tersendiri yang menarik untuk diikuti.
Hm... sekarang tinggal Sophie dari Spinster Club. Kabarnya bakalan pasangan dengan Nicholas, temannya Somerton.
Flashback 10 tahun yg lalu, Anthony Somerton baru saja merayakan ulang tahunnya yang ke 18. Nicholas dan Trey, kawannya, mengajaknya pergi ke brothel untuk merasakan pengalaman pertamanya dengan seorang wanita. Bukannya dapat hiburan dari wanita, dia malah menemukan ibunya, Lady Whitely yang dikiranya telah meninggal adalah pemilik brothel tersebut. Somerton pergi dalam keadaan mabuk. Di tangga dekat gereja, dia bertemu dengan seorang gadis penjual jeruk yang sudah beberapa waktu lamanya ditaksir oleh Somerton. Di tangga itu, Somerton mengambil keperawanan si gadis. Sepuluh tahun lamanya, Somerton hidup dalam perasaan bersalah karena menganggap dirinya telah memperkosa gadis tersebut. Untuk itu dia meminta bantuan Sophie untuk menemukan gadis itu. Ohya, ternyata Somerton dan Sophie itu saudara tiri.
Victoria Seaton (a.k.a Anne Smith) tinggal di sebelah brothel milik Lady Whitely. Dia mengasuh beberapa anak yatim piatu yang ditinggalkan oleh wanita yang hamil di luar pernikahan. Hidupnya selama ini sangat menyedihkan, dia bahkan kadang mencopet untuk kelangsungan hidupnya. Teman2nya di Spinster Club tidak ada yang tahu soal itu. Suatu hari, di acara Lady Selby, Victoria mencopet sebuah kalung dari Somerton. Ketika Somerton tahu siapa yang mengambil kalung miliknya, dia membuat perhitungan dengan Victoria. Terutama setelah dia tahu Victoria adalah Anne yang dicarinya selama ini.
Somerton sendiri ternyata sering bekerja pada pemerintah sebagai agen rahasia. Kali ini tugasnya mencari tahu sesuatu hal yang berkaitan dengan rencana pembunuhan pangeran kerajaan. Untuk itu dia harus menghadiri sebuah pesta natal, dan dia membutuhkan mistress sebagai pendamping. Dia pun meminta Victoria berpura-pura sebagai mistress, dan memberi sejumlah uang sebagai imbalan, serta tidak memperpanjang kasus pencurian kalung tadi. Victoria setuju.
Baik Victoria maupun Somerton sebenarnya telah saling menyukai sejak 10 tahun yang lalu. Victoria sendir tidak menganggap Somerton pernah memperkosanya, karena secara sadar dia memang ingin menyerahkan dirinya pertama kali untuk Somerton. Kali ini dengan berpura2 menjadi mistress, sekali lagi dia berdekatan dengan Somerton. Meski awalnya sama2 gengsi dan keras kepala, akhirnya keduanya tidak bisa menahan passion yang ada di antara mereka.
Menariknya, Victoria jadi terlibat dalam kasus yang sedang dikerjakan oleh Somerton. Kasus yang akhirnya membuat Victoria hampir kehilangan nyawanya. Selain itu, konflik keluarga Somerton punya kisah tersendiri yang menarik untuk diikuti.
Hm... sekarang tinggal Sophie dari Spinster Club. Kabarnya bakalan pasangan dengan Nicholas, temannya Somerton.
adoublena's review
5.0
Anthony and Victoria. I loved everything about this book, but I especially loved Anthony. He has been my favorite hero in the whole series.
simplyparticular's review against another edition
2.0
I think I just need to stay away from teh Zebra novels - this one was just too hard to slog through, and the suspension of disbeleife for the plot (rapist guilty son of Earl falls in love with guttersnipe orange sellerdurong a house party where they masquerade as lovers to prevent anti-monarchy forces, while being blackmailed!).
I barely made it 4 chapters. It didn't help that it was name-dropping previous series books like crazy.