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hijinx_abound's review against another edition
3.0
A Victorian romance/ mystery starring an eccentric family, a penniless scholar, and a mysterious spiritual challenging object.
I loved that the children were named after Gods & Goddesses and that the parents were fiercely in love. The father is a Duke but he is also a bit of a mad scientist. He does not care for society and does not adhere to their standards. I loved the relationships between the siblings and even the hateful old grandma. Mostly because she has my Nanny's name, Cornelia.
Desmond is from a rough upbringing and his father is a convicted felon who was sent off to the Penal Colony of Australia. He has been given a second chance by a Professor who is slightly mocked for his interest in Spiritualism. Meeting Thisbe at a lecture is the best thing to happen to him in a very long time.
I love that their connection is intellectual initially. There is an attraction but they are really fascinated with the other's mind. I enjoyed the story and especially the family. It does have lots of miscommunication in the way of keeping information from one another.
I may have to go back and explore other books in this series.
I loved that the children were named after Gods & Goddesses and that the parents were fiercely in love. The father is a Duke but he is also a bit of a mad scientist. He does not care for society and does not adhere to their standards. I loved the relationships between the siblings and even the hateful old grandma. Mostly because she has my Nanny's name, Cornelia.
Desmond is from a rough upbringing and his father is a convicted felon who was sent off to the Penal Colony of Australia. He has been given a second chance by a Professor who is slightly mocked for his interest in Spiritualism. Meeting Thisbe at a lecture is the best thing to happen to him in a very long time.
I love that their connection is intellectual initially. There is an attraction but they are really fascinated with the other's mind. I enjoyed the story and especially the family. It does have lots of miscommunication in the way of keeping information from one another.
I may have to go back and explore other books in this series.
bettybumpkins's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
3.0
While I enjoyed the mysterious plot, I found the romance lacking.
scottishpixie26's review against another edition
4.0
When reading the first chapter, I wasn't sure I was going to like this book. However I enjoyed the story and the relationship between Thisbe and Desmond.
The story did start off a bit slow, but it did pick up. Loved the twists that happened. Some parts were slightly predictable. Overall though this was a good book.
The story did start off a bit slow, but it did pick up. Loved the twists that happened. Some parts were slightly predictable. Overall though this was a good book.
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
Two scientists from very different worlds come together in the delightful Her Scandalous Pursuit. Candace Camp returns to her Mad Morelands series with a prequel featuring the eldest Moreland, Thisbe.
Thisbe is a scientist who has the support of her family and the freedom provided by her station to attend lectures and meetings, even if the men there don’t take her seriously. I enjoyed her fearless nature and the way she wouldn’t let sexism stop her from pursuing her studies. When she meets Desmond at a lecture, she’s delighted to find a man who is willing to talk with her as an equal. Desmond was a total sweetheart. He’s patient, kind, and protective, though that last quality tends to get in his way at times. Desmond is very conscious of his “low birth” – especially when he finds out Thisbe is a duke’s daughter – but he cannot deny the pull between them. Thisbe comes from a very unconventional family and is unconcerned with their difference in stations. While some suspension of disbelief is required for how casual the Morelands are and how much freedom Thisbe has to be alone with Desmond, I was happy to go along for the ride. Thisbe and Desmond fit extremely well and were so easy to root for, even when misunderstandings or misplaced honor get in their way.
The romance between Desmond and Thisbe might have been better suited to a novella if it weren’t for the subplot filling out a good portion of the book. Desmond is working for a disgraced scientist who is obsessed with finding Annie Blue’s Eye, an ancient artifact rumored to possess supernatural powers. At the same time Thisbe begins to have nightmares connected to the Eye’s creator. When Desmond learns Thisbe has a connection to the Eye, it sets off a chain of events that lead the two of them on a dangerous pursuit. I can’t say much about this plotline for fear of spoiling the story. For me, this storyline slowed down the book at times and wasn’t as interesting as the romance, but that could just be personal preference.
Her Scandalous Pursuit is a prequel to the Mad Morelands series and having not read the other six books I can safely say it stands alone. Fans of the series will undoubtedly be thrilled to see their favorite characters before their happily ever afters. And I enjoyed this welcoming, loving, intellectual family so much that I cannot wait to read the rest of the series (Thisbe’s youngest brothers, the Greats, were especially charming). All in all, Her Scandalous Pursuit is a thoroughly entertaining read.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Two scientists from very different worlds come together in the delightful Her Scandalous Pursuit. Candace Camp returns to her Mad Morelands series with a prequel featuring the eldest Moreland, Thisbe.
Thisbe is a scientist who has the support of her family and the freedom provided by her station to attend lectures and meetings, even if the men there don’t take her seriously. I enjoyed her fearless nature and the way she wouldn’t let sexism stop her from pursuing her studies. When she meets Desmond at a lecture, she’s delighted to find a man who is willing to talk with her as an equal. Desmond was a total sweetheart. He’s patient, kind, and protective, though that last quality tends to get in his way at times. Desmond is very conscious of his “low birth” – especially when he finds out Thisbe is a duke’s daughter – but he cannot deny the pull between them. Thisbe comes from a very unconventional family and is unconcerned with their difference in stations. While some suspension of disbelief is required for how casual the Morelands are and how much freedom Thisbe has to be alone with Desmond, I was happy to go along for the ride. Thisbe and Desmond fit extremely well and were so easy to root for, even when misunderstandings or misplaced honor get in their way.
The romance between Desmond and Thisbe might have been better suited to a novella if it weren’t for the subplot filling out a good portion of the book. Desmond is working for a disgraced scientist who is obsessed with finding Annie Blue’s Eye, an ancient artifact rumored to possess supernatural powers. At the same time Thisbe begins to have nightmares connected to the Eye’s creator. When Desmond learns Thisbe has a connection to the Eye, it sets off a chain of events that lead the two of them on a dangerous pursuit. I can’t say much about this plotline for fear of spoiling the story. For me, this storyline slowed down the book at times and wasn’t as interesting as the romance, but that could just be personal preference.
Her Scandalous Pursuit is a prequel to the Mad Morelands series and having not read the other six books I can safely say it stands alone. Fans of the series will undoubtedly be thrilled to see their favorite characters before their happily ever afters. And I enjoyed this welcoming, loving, intellectual family so much that I cannot wait to read the rest of the series (Thisbe’s youngest brothers, the Greats, were especially charming). All in all, Her Scandalous Pursuit is a thoroughly entertaining read.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
rossandhissandwich's review
2.75
I am not crazy about these series, but I really like Camp's writing and she usually adds great chemistry to the characters, but this time I did not see the spark between them
swt's review against another edition
2.0
Camp is usually a favorite romance author, but this one lacked her usual writing magic. Liked Thisbe being a woman of science, but otherwise it lacked any spark.
rjordan19's review against another edition
3.0
Thisbe is not your average Duke's daughter. In fact, her whole family is a combination of oddities. She's a scientists and loves to learn and attend lectures. This is where she meets Desmond. Desmond is not your usual hero. He's very beta, shy, he even blushes. Thisbe is more the leader of the relationship. They have a lot in common with their interests though, and I feel they are a great couple together.
I did find the romance lacking in this book though. I haven't read anything from this series, this is my first. I believe this book is the prequel to the others in the series. Thisbe has a large family and they take up a lot of page space in this story. It's very cute and reminisce of, say maybe the Bridgerton family by JQ. I wasn't looking for that though, I really just want some damn good romance between two people. But I know many people love this.
Desmond doesn't have a large family, in fact it's only him. He has a mentor that he has the utmost respect for and feels he must help when asked. His mentor wants the Eye, some type of alchemical creation from hundreds of years ago. Things get messy when Desmond realizes the holder of the Eye is Thisbe's own family.
I wasn't expecting this book to have this paranormal feel to it. Dreams partially coming true, gifts running in family member lines, etc. I actually enjoyed that part to it. But the romance I felt got a bit lost in all this. I didn't really connect with either character. Desmond isn't usually a hero I'm totally in love with, but I'm glad he's out there because he's unique and I think many people will love him.
Overall just an okay read for me. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own regarding this story.
I did find the romance lacking in this book though. I haven't read anything from this series, this is my first. I believe this book is the prequel to the others in the series. Thisbe has a large family and they take up a lot of page space in this story. It's very cute and reminisce of, say maybe the Bridgerton family by JQ. I wasn't looking for that though, I really just want some damn good romance between two people. But I know many people love this.
Desmond doesn't have a large family, in fact it's only him. He has a mentor that he has the utmost respect for and feels he must help when asked. His mentor wants the Eye, some type of alchemical creation from hundreds of years ago. Things get messy when Desmond realizes the holder of the Eye is Thisbe's own family.
I wasn't expecting this book to have this paranormal feel to it. Dreams partially coming true, gifts running in family member lines, etc. I actually enjoyed that part to it. But the romance I felt got a bit lost in all this. I didn't really connect with either character. Desmond isn't usually a hero I'm totally in love with, but I'm glad he's out there because he's unique and I think many people will love him.
Overall just an okay read for me. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own regarding this story.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Thisbe Moreland is a scientist even if she is a woman in a time when women are not considered to be intelligent. HarrisoBut she still attends lectures. And that's where she meets Desmond Harrison. Most duke's daughters wouldn't be interested in a shopkeeper's assistant, especially one who works for a scientist trying to prove that ghosts exist, but one of the Mad Morelands would definitely be willing to defy convention.
Thisbe hates the name but she can't deny that she is having odd dreams. Dreams that are connected to the artifact that Desmond is looking for, one that might prove the existence of ghosts. Something her grandmother, the feared Dowager of Broughton owns.
This book was written after the rest of the series, even though it is a prequel. It is a nice, quick story though sort of surface, even though it tops four hundred pages.
Thisbe hates the name but she can't deny that she is having odd dreams. Dreams that are connected to the artifact that Desmond is looking for, one that might prove the existence of ghosts. Something her grandmother, the feared Dowager of Broughton owns.
This book was written after the rest of the series, even though it is a prequel. It is a nice, quick story though sort of surface, even though it tops four hundred pages.