5 Word Review: Expectation, society, lies, secrets, love.

I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up The Scandal of the Season, but I do know that I was not disappointed. It was an excellent historical romance that I couldn't put down.

I loved Cassy and how genuine and kind and generous she was. She was such a good and hopeful person, and she shone so brightly as a character even in spite of what she had been through.

I really enjoyed the misunderstandings in this story - they were less than clear cut. The lack of communication didn't even bother me, it felt so natural due to the nature of the misunderstandings at hand.

Nathaniel was a bit of a boor at times, but I couldn't help but fall for him just like Cassy did. He's had a tough life, and I thought the portrayed of PTSD and his coping mechanisms was excellent.

Poor Cassie doesn't have much luck with the men in her life and it looks like Nathaniel is going to be another one of them. A most enjoyable romance watching ladies help others who struggle in this entirely male dominated world to find their way. I liked Cassie and Nathaniel was a good match for her, once he began to understand her better. A lovely read.

Cassie's life has not been easy after a youthful scandal ruined her in Regency society's eyes. She lives with a distant relation and her partner and works as a seamstress. When a Dowager Duchess, her godmother wants to take her to London for the season. She is unsure, but the Dowager is manipulative, and so with the blessing of her surrogate aunts she agrees. The rumblings of her former scandal haunt her, brought to life with a threat of new scandal when Nathaniel Fairfax, storms into her life.

The story takes a while to set the scene, but the complex characters and relatable.themes explored hold your interest until the passionate romance and dangerous misunderstanding explode in the story's second half.

Full of conflicts both internal and external, Regency society at its most devastatingly cutting and a cast of vibrant Regency characters, this story is a lovely way to escape the present-day problems.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Annie Burrows is always reliable, and I really enjoyed her latest book.

Cassandra Furnival tried to escape her oppressive stepfathers clutches as a young woman by trying to elope with a young soldier, And follow the drum, his commanding officer Colonel Nathanial Foster, forbid this and escorted her home.

Her stepfather refused to take her back,, and has ruined her reputation by spreading lies about her, so she lives with her aunt and a friend, and they support themselves as seamstresses.

One day her godmother the Duchess of Theakstone, comes to visit, and convinces her to come to London and have a season sponsored by her, together with the rich daughter of an industrialist.

Cassandra agrees and when she arrives, she is surprised by the antagonism that Nate shows towards her. He has been misinformed that she has taken and squandered her late fiancée’s fortune,, and his sister ask him to thwart Cassandra’s ambitions in society.

Nate is inexplicably drawn towards Cassandra, as he had been attracted to her as a teenager, but felt she was too young for him, between his conflicted feelings about her, her defiance, and his PSTD,he struggles to make sense of it all.

The set pieces in the book really made me laugh, as did the ginger heiress, and thin dole the Duke, and manipulative Godmother. The whole thing was a lovely romp, with a serious core theme, of strength in adversity, and how women can make their way in a man’s world.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on goodreads

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Loved this
A very satisfying read
Loved the characters and story

Oh my gosh, words can’t describe how much I loved this book!
Nathaniel believed the worst of Cassy, his sister told him that she had swindled her fiancée out of a lot of money and forced the sister of the fiancée out of London. He confronts Cassy in a London ballroom and challenges her about what she has done, saying he will ruin her if she tried to get another suitor
Cassy has no idea what he is talking about, yes she was involved in a scandal, but not something that should result in something like this.
I loved Cassy and Nathaniel as characters, they were so real and jumped off the page as did the supporting characters around them. Their fights made them seem more even more real and pulled me further into the spell of their world.
This book is so different to some romances set in the same era, not everything is as it seems and throughout there were surprises and the reader will be compelled to find out what happens next. It was also the first time I had read about a solider from another time experiencing PTSD and it was skilfully woven into the story and handled sensitively although this book may not be for you if you suffer from PTSD as there are areas where it could cause triggers
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romances with twists and turns

As soon as I picked this book up I didn’t want to put it down! The interactions between Cass and Nathaniel were fiery with an underlying chemistry that was constantly bubbling away. Their first meeting in this book was memorable especially the way that Cass stood up for herself. Nathaniel has completely the wrong impression of her and is determined to stop whatever plans she has. So what follows is a story filled with misunderstandings, secrets and crossed wires. This tangled web gives the story an interesting and entertaining edge!

Both characters are very determined in their missions and their clashes made me constantly smile. Along with on occasion making me want to shout at them to listen and not jump to conclusions. Got to love a book that does that! 😉 At first glance Nathaniel does not come across well but as the story progresses the layers to his personality are revealed along with his back story that helps to explain his actions. I loved how Cass formed friendships along with seeing her confidence grow day by day. The minor characters also brought something special to the story especially the Duchess of Theakstone who let’s just say is a very lively character! The plot moves at a lovely pace and I couldn’t wait to find out how the truth would finally be revealed.

The Scandal of the Season is a wonderful romance!

I adored this book. It was a real treat. The writing sparkled and I loved the characters. It had everything - emotion, humour, and believable dialogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the Mills & Boon Insiders for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cassandra was a caring and resourceful person. When she had no option but to live with her aunts, she supported herself by helping them with their dressmaking business. Cassandra had always thought of Colonel Nathaniel Fairfax as being a hero and had always been attracted to him. Nathaniel had equally been attracted to Cassandra but thought her too young at the time. Now, many years later, they come into contact again. However, someone has misinformed Nathaniel about Cassandra and he is determined to take her to task. Nathaniel has traumatic war memories and there are some heartfelt exchanges towards the end. There are a number of misunderstandings that ensure things do not run smoothly. This was an enjoyable read with likeable characters. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cassandra Furnival needed to leave home when she was just sixteen due to her cruel step father. She was convinced by an infantry man to elope with him so that she could leave her family without being forced to return. Unfortunately not all went to plan as he didn’t realise that the she wasn’t old enough to marry so the marriage was not legal and his commanding officer would not allow her to travel to the campaign with them. Her step father would not let her return to the family home. Instead she went to live with her outcast Aunt who has been disowned for living with another woman. She has spent the last 6 years working as a seamstress until her godmother, The Duchess of Theakstone wants to take her to London and let her have her chance at being a debutante. Colonial Nathaniel Fairfax, who played a large part in thwarting her escape plan all those years ago, is surprised to see her at the Ton and he presumed that she in on the hunt for a rich, titled husband. He is determined to yet again thwart her plans and he is still listening to his sister’s malicious lies about Cassie.

Nathaniel is still, despite his mistrust, attracted to Cassie, to the extent it is affecting his work. As Cassie is not prepared to break confidences in order to dispel the lies spread by his sister will Nathaniel realise Cassie is not the money/title grabbing debutante he envisages her to be?

I received this novel from Mills & Boon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Scandal Of The Season (Mills & Boon Historical) is a standalone book
by Annie Burrows.

Cassandra Furnival needed to escape her home when she was a young woman. Her stepfather made her life miserable. An equally naive young man, a young infantry man who was like a brother to her, convinced her to elope with him so that she could follow the drum and get as far away from her family as she could. He didn't realise that they were too young for the marriage to be legal and his commanding officer wasn't prepared to let him take the young Cassandra on campaign either. Cassandra was left with a ruined reputation and her stepfather couldn't wait to tell her she wasn't welcome back home. He also did his best to spread far and wide about her ruination. Fortunately, Cassandra was taken in by her aunt and from that day she happily made her living as a seamstress with her and her lady friend. Her calm life is abruptly changed when her Godmother comes to visit and tells her that she wants to pay for her to have a season in London and to help restore her reputation. In doing so she will also be helping her godmother so she agrees to the woman's plans. The last thing she expects is to run into the commanding officer from all those years ago. Nor does she expect that instead of being the helpful man he was to her before he is now a very very angry man accusing her of things that are very untrue.

Colonel Nathaniel Fairfax is that man and he has been led to believe that far from innocent Cassandra used the young soldier that she eloped with and since his death, she has taken his inheritance given to her in his will and squandered it, leaving his family distraught as they should have had some of that money. He thinks she is back in town after all these years to nab herself a new husband, a rich one at that, and he is determined to not let that happen. He is very quick to tell her as such too.

He has no idea of the true story behind her reasons for eloping, nor what her life has been like since. But even thinking the worst he can't stop the attraction to her that he has had since he first met her. He considered her too young for him then, now though she would be perfect if she wasn't such a gold-digging hoyden. Poor Nathanial is also suffering from PTSD which of course wasn't recognised back then, so between keeping himself together and trying to stop Cassandra's supposed wicked plans all while fighting his attraction to her, he finds himself quite worked up. Even his work begins to suffer.

Cassandra won't break confidences, she also doesn't think she should have to explain herself to Nathanial so if anything she makes him think that he is right in her assumption that she is looking for a new husband, perhaps a titled one. She certainly won't admit to him, in fact, she can barely admit to herself that she is very attracted to him, at least who he was when he was so helpful to her before. Is that Nathanial still there, or is he really the bitter man who can't see that she isn't who he thinks she is.

I won't write any more about the plot because you will end up not needing to read the book! You will have to read for yourself what happens between Nathan and Cassandra. If you are like me you will thoroughly enjoy their story. They are both such good characters and some of the scenes between them had me feeling so emotional. No spoilers though!

Yes, there were emotional scenes but there were also scenes that had me laughing out loud, others that just made me sigh happily, and yet others that wanted me to reach into the book and slap a character or two! I love a book that can make me run the gamut of emotions like that!!

I can't find fault in this book, it definitely earns its 5-star rating!!

Cassandra Furnival made a Fatal error when she was sixteen, which saw her thrown out by her horrid stepfather. Luckily she was taken in by her Aunt & for the past seven years has helped her aunts in their dressmaking business. Then one day her godmother The Duchess of Theakstone arrives on her doorstep & takes her to London for the season. Colonel Nathaniel Fairfax rescued Cassandra & is surprised that she was now attempting to lay siege to the Ton’s eligible bachelors! Determined to thwart her plans, he’s as astounded by her defiance as by her beauty.
I loved Cassandra a young woman who in her naivety was ruined but she's matured & is strong & resilient. I loved the verbal sparring between her & Nathaniel. I almost despaired of Nathaniel a supposed intelligent, honourable man who believed the words of his sister without question. I spent two thirds of the book disliking him & really thought there was no way he could be redeemed. Whether he is or not I’ll leave you to decide! A well written book that on the whole flowed well although the pace did lag in a couple of places.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read