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cala_p's review against another edition
4.0
I was not surprised to see who this book is about. Book 1 hinted towards these two, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Now that I have read it--and enjoyed it--I feel a much appreciation for this book. It’s a historical romance that touches on the realism of age gaps and the complications that may come with it.
Graciela is a widower, young wife to the late Autenburry, who in his life did not stay faithful to her or completely kind to her. Life in the ton makes her believe that she’s useless because she is a widow and older than being “fresh on the market” so she shuts herself in, ignores her sexuality and cares for her children. Until her friend encourages her to attend the adult club, to at least view. There she sees her stepson and runs into his friend, Colin Strickland and uses him as a mask of a lover to help her escape the place. At the same time, her stepson is trying to hit on her. It’s funny actually. After an intense make-out session in the club, both characters can not stop thinking about one another. Thus the beginning of a romance.
We didn’t learn too much about Colin in the first book; a bit with Poppy, but not enough to get a idea of his personality, so his character was new to us. As characters go, he was fine. I didn’t love him; I didn’t hate him. He had romantic moments, but later in the book he always frustrated me when it came to marrying her. Stop making it seem like you’re doing it for the one reason only and no other. I would act the same as Graciela here and deny him.
We got a good idea of Graciela in book 1 and it was like reading a whole new character in this one. Book 1 made her very cheerful, motherly, and such. In this one, she acts like either a locked-up widow; the poor me thing, or as a young, carefree girl. She didn’t have the same spark as book 1 I found and it was a little annoying.
Considering it was Marcus’ step mother and his friend, we saw more of him, which leads me into my next point. He was so annoying!! When he discovered his step mother had a lover/suitor, he got panicked and worried and went on about how inappropriate it is. He drove me nuts!! Graciela isn’t 100. More so, I can respect protectiveness, but he went above and beyond and almost possessive; like she’s HIS stepmother, and no one else can have her; that it is inappropriate because it is her age and her status. I feel like I can rant forever on this one. Then, when the truth comes out, he literally runs away like a child. He is the hero of the next book, and the storyline of that one is what actually pulled me into this series; it’s the one I originally wanted to read. It sounds fantastic, but boy does he have some work to do! He is gonna need to work in making me not hate him as a character.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Not as much as the first, but I didn’t not like it.
brianne_k's review against another edition
4.0
*4/5*
Older woman, younger man.. a pleasure club.. wow.
One major plot point (that just happens to be a trope I really dislike) just about knocked it down to a 3 star for me but I didn't mind how everything came together.
Older woman, younger man.. a pleasure club.. wow.
One major plot point (that just happens to be a trope I really dislike) just about knocked it down to a 3 star for me but I didn't mind how everything came together.
mgirlreads's review
Read a little too much like a just-okay "enemies to lovers" fanfic for my preference... the tension between fmc and mmc was acted upon almost instantly, which was hot but also stalled out momentum when they tried to invent the reasons they couldn't possibly be together (despite still hooking up at every opportunity).
credit where credit's due, the erotic scenes were pretty spicy, just wish they felt more earned and the rest of the writing was interesting
credit where credit's due, the erotic scenes were pretty spicy, just wish they felt more earned and the rest of the writing was interesting
sauvegypsy's review
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Excellent smut for an afternoon read. :)
nellesnightstand1's review
5.0
Ela is 35, a widow of 10 years with a grown step-son, step-daughter, and nearly grown daughter. She was in a horrible marriage, but on the surface, it was perfect, even to the children. She wants a night of passion and goes with a widowed friend to Sodom a sex club. She's horribly embarrassed by what's going on. Then she see's her step-son. And his friend. His friend, Strickland saves her from being recognised but it gets heated.
WOW this was so full of Taboo and it was awesome! Their chemistry was off the chart. Ela was so reluctant and Strickland was so yummily persistent!! Strickland was much to be admired in this.
WOW this was so full of Taboo and it was awesome! Their chemistry was off the chart. Ela was so reluctant and Strickland was so yummily persistent!! Strickland was much to be admired in this.
laughlinesandliterature's review
3.0
*I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
Yeah this book was really weird for me. On one hand I really enjoyed the chemistry and interaction between Graciela and Collin. The only thing that squicked me out was the fact that Collin was her stepsons best friend. I know the age difference between them is only 6 years, and that honestly doesn’t bother me one iota. It was mostly the sneaking around behind her stepson’s back that made me feel like this was a little too far for me. Honestly though, it didn’t really prevent me from enjoying the book. I just wanted to mention it in my review in case that’s something that would turn off other readers. Sophie Jordan actually handles that aspect of the book very well, and I enjoyed it immensely.
Graciela and Collin had some chemistry that was off the charts. As an older married woman, I actually liked reading about Graciela gathering her courage and deciding to go out and have fun. It was definitely out of her comfort zone, and it kind of backfired, but also kind of didn’t. Overall I enjoyed it 3 out of 5 stars.
*This review was first posted on Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2017/10/scandal-of-it-all-by-sophie-jordan.html*
Yeah this book was really weird for me. On one hand I really enjoyed the chemistry and interaction between Graciela and Collin. The only thing that squicked me out was the fact that Collin was her stepsons best friend. I know the age difference between them is only 6 years, and that honestly doesn’t bother me one iota. It was mostly the sneaking around behind her stepson’s back that made me feel like this was a little too far for me. Honestly though, it didn’t really prevent me from enjoying the book. I just wanted to mention it in my review in case that’s something that would turn off other readers. Sophie Jordan actually handles that aspect of the book very well, and I enjoyed it immensely.
Graciela and Collin had some chemistry that was off the charts. As an older married woman, I actually liked reading about Graciela gathering her courage and deciding to go out and have fun. It was definitely out of her comfort zone, and it kind of backfired, but also kind of didn’t. Overall I enjoyed it 3 out of 5 stars.
*This review was first posted on Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2017/10/scandal-of-it-all-by-sophie-jordan.html*
lala8's review
3.0
Ok, so I usually read 1* reviews before I read something because that's where you find the real gold (and because 5* reviews aren't reliable anymore on GR
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
Graciela has played the right part since she became a member of the London ton but was never really accepted because of her Spanish blood. Even with her husband's death 10 years before she's continued to be an upstanding citizen, never stepping out of character or attempting anything scandalous. After the loss of a good friend she is no longer content to let life just pass her by, she's ready for a little bit of fun. A night at London's most notorious club is maybe a little too much too quick for her. Thankfully her one night out lead her to Lord Strickland, Collin, and he isn't about to let her forget the sparks that flew. Can Graciela finally give in to pleasure that will last for more than a night or will she let society continue to dictate how she can be happy? A really fun read with a older heroine getting a second chance at happiness. Good read!
laurazdavidson's review
3.0
Hot and steamy, but there wasn't a lot of story here. Ela and Colin rarely spoke, and when they did it was an argument (about age, family, propriety)... hardly enough to build a real relationship.