Reviews of SCANDAL by Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz)

Reader Reviews

SCANDAL
By Amanda Quick, 1991
Historical Romance
Bantam/Fanfare; ISBN: 0553289322

Reviewed by: Beverly Kuhn
Reviewed by: Sarah Jones
Reviewed by: Marsha Welsh

Simon Augustus Traherne, the Earl of Blade, has one thing on his mind: revenge. He's out to destroy all those associated with his father's tragic suicide and his family's financial ruin, especially the Faringdon clan. The key to his plan? Emily Faringdon, an elfin beauty, resigned to spinsterhood because of the Unfortunate Incident in her past. While Blade sees Emily as the key to her family's destruction, Emily sees Blade as her savior. She doesn't see the mysterious, dangerous, and ruthless businessman that all of London sees. To her, Blade is a golden-eyed dragon whose sense of honor and duty and compassion take precedence over his revenge. When Blade agrees to marry Emily, he gets more than he bargains for. While he believes her to be a wide-eyed romantic who sees the world through rose-colored glasses, he comes to discover that she has struggled for years keeping her family out of debtor's prison and sees the harsh reality of the world perhaps better than he. Though Emily knows Blade's true reason for marrying her, she has a fervent hope that she can save him from himself and teach him to love. But the Scandal has the power to destroy them both . . . and just might unless they are strong enough to overcome their pasts and look to the future.

Scandal is vintage Amanda Quick! A rapid-fire story that leaves you breathless with laughter in one moment and near tears with poignant sadness the next. The manner in which the hero and heroine learn and grow is touching and a timeless lesson for all. Perhaps the most telling example is when Emily realizes that she must live her life for herself and no longer live it for her brothers and father. How she comes to that point is worth reading. Blade, on the other hand, has to struggle with the revenge he's lived with his entire life, a cold companion but a familiar one. His struggle to break free of its bonds is inspiring. A must read for Amanda Quick!

Set in Regency England, this is one of my favorite Amanda Quick books. Emily Faringdon, a "spinster" with a scandal in her past, has finally met the man of her dreams, but he turns out to be a little different than his letters imply.

Simon Augustus Traherne, the mysterious Earl of Blade, thinks that Emily is the key to obtaining his final revenge for the suicide of his father. Simon descends on St. Clair hall and intimidates everyone in sight so he can marry Emily. Simon even goes so far as to make Emily's scandal "disappear" using his powers of persuasion. Once married, Simon tries to sever all ties Emily has with her gambler of a father and irresponsible twin brothers. Until then, Emily was able to view Simon as a gentleman and someone with whom she could communicate with on a higher plane.

Throughout the rest of the book, Emily's boundless optimism is tested by Simon's insensitivity and quest for revenge. Close to the end of the book, Emily's scandal comes back to haunt her and she must choose between her father and her husband. Will Emily be able to conquer Simon's past and live happily ever after? You will have to read it to find out. I loved this book and am constantly re-reading it. I am sure you will love it too.

After her "Unfortunate Incident", Emily Farringdon is destined to spend her life making money on the "'change" so her father and twin brothers can continue their reckless lifestyles. She has a love for poetry. She knows before ever meeting him, she loves S.A. Traherne, who's been corresponding with her through the post for several months. She assumes from his letters, he loves her too, but realizes all too soon after meeting him, he has his own reasons for seeking her out.

Simon Traherne, the Earl of Blade, has struggled to regain the fortune that his father gambled away to Emily's father over 23 years earlier, including his home. Now the powerful Earl seeks revenge on all of those involved in the card game on the fateful night when his father took his own life, leaving Simon to care for his mother although he was just a young boy. Emily goes out on a limb and marries the man obsessed with revenge, hoping that one day he might come to love her the way she loves him. Although she is torn between her love of her husband and the love of her family, she strives to be the perfect wife and to convince Simon that revenge is not the answer. Slowly, and sometimes inadvertently, she foils his attempts for revenge.

Scandal is my favorite Amanda Quick book. The love scenes are plentiful and strategically placed to show the depth of the love Emily feels for Simon. When he finally realizes his love for her, he tells her with a twist of raw emotion. The scene is one that gives me that funny feeling in my stomach every time I read it. The character development is superb. Emily is bubbly and happy despite all the pain and sorrow life has dealt her. Simon is bitter and bent on revenge. Emily is able to see through his bitterness and find the good in him that even he doesn't recognize. She helps him to see that although her circumstances are similar to his, she strives on love and eventually teaches him to do the same. I have read this book several times and will continue to do so just because I enjoy it so much.