BOOK REVIEW: Once Upon A Scandal By Delilah Marvelle

HQN Romance Feb 2011

384 pages By Delilah Marvelle


BLURB ON BACK OF BOOK:

SHE WAS ABOUT TO FALL FOR THE ONLY MAN SHE WOULD EVER LOVE...FOR THE SECOND TIME.

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson left behind her girlish notions of romance when Jonathan deserted her without a backward glance. Now the time has come when she must finally choose a husband, and she has vowed to marry someone who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home, free from all his family's debts. Only to discover that by some miracle he has been chosen to vie for the hand of his beloved Victoria. To convince his only love to once again believe in the magic of love and the promise of desire will be his greatest challenge yet.

A little red book by an unknown author.
Three unlikely couples...and scandal galore.
Look for the rest of the Scandal series!

ARE YOU READY TO BE SCANDALIZED?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the second book in Delilah Marvelle's trilogy, but it not a sequel nor are the characters really tied together. But they are tied to together by a little red book about scandal.
Again, Delilah offers over the top drama and emotions and a severely flawed/damaged hero and a stubborn heroine.

We first meet Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Lord Remington at the age of 19, his eye and interest firmly fixed on the beautiful 17 year old Lady Victoria Jane Emmerson. Jonathan has dreamy, in the clouds notions on romance, it is on such an aching innocent and pure level, it will steal your heart. Their brief courtship is tender, sweet and filled with promise. A passionate kiss is exchanged along with Jonathan giving Victoria his late mother's ring, and the fervent wish that she not betroth herself to anyone until he returns. Jonathan is off to Venice to see his sister and his step-mother settled. In the interim, Jonathan and Victoria exchange some touching letters, until one arrives saying due to bad investments, Jonathan is now ruined. After a brief absence of no letters at all, Jonathan writes a terse missive breaking it off with Victoria for good.

Five years pass. They have not been good ones for Victoria. She has become bitter about men and love, vowing never to feel again after being tossed aside by Jonathan. Also, her father is not well. And he leaves a bizarre request. He has arranged for 3 men to vie for her hand in marriage, and it must be done before her syphilitic father dies, it is all tied in with the inheritance. Imagine Victoria's horror when she finds that Jonathan is one of the three!

Again, this is one strange read, but entirely riveting. Such flawed characters, and somewhat uneven. The villain of this piece, the Italian Marchese Jonathan is forced to work for to pay off his debts, is strange and hard to grasp. What exactly Jonathan had to do, I won't give away.

It is a very bumpy and bittersweet ride to get to the ending. Victoria was a border line shrew, but, she had her reasons in a lot of ways. Jonathan is damaged inside from his experiences, you wonder if this mess can ever be overcome. It is drama with a capital D in this book, but it keeps you reading.

One of Victoria's suitors is Marquis Moreland, and the third book in this scandal series is about him. I can't wait, he comes across here in his brief scenes as cold and passionate all at once.

3 out of 4 stars for the book

KOVER KUDOS: I love the pose, and the colors, also look as the hero and heroine are described.

3 out of 4 stars for the cover