The Scandals of an Innocent

Novel - The Scandals of an Innocent
Author - Nicola Cornick
ISBN-13: 9780373773893




In reading Nicola Cornick’s ‘The Scandals of an Innocent’, I found this book kind of slow going. Regardless, I enjoyed it. This is the 2nd in a three book series, but the first that I have read by Ms. Cornick. I found her to be an intriguing voice (most of the time) and am interested in reading more…Mostly, I like the newness of the plot, characters and the rich banter between hero and heroine.

Alice Lister, our heroine, has come into quite a bit of money and must find a man or else lose have her fortune to taxation! Enter Miles, Lord Vickery. He is a rake and a fortune hunter. What makes him worse than most is that he actually wooed Alice once before only to abandon her to test his wiles on a more wealthy heiress.

Miles may be as indebted as they come, but he makes no qualms about being a gold-digger. Alice desires him and he lusts after her because of her beauty. These two have a cat and mouse relationship. In general, he takes a personal affront to most things that she does and is dragging her off to another room and ravishing her. There are several of these types of scenes until the ultimate ravishing takes place. For some reason (my cave-woman instincts, maybe) I enjoy reading about dragging and the ravishing, so these parts were a solid read.

The overarching plot arch is that Miles enters a pact with Alice that he will tell the truth in all things. He must do so in order for him to prove that he is worthy to be married to her. This pact comes crashing to a head when Miles hands her over to the Law in the name of truth, and she is taken away in shackles! Like any half-intelligent woman, Alice questions why he didn’t protect her instead of telling the truth. His reason for telling the truth is that she would not respect him if he had not told the truth. Ultimately, she agrees and forgives him – even after she spent a night in jail.

Thus my issue: In my mind it would have been more poetic if he had lied. What did these characters gain by telling the truth – nothing! She spent the night in prison and is humiliated – all because he felt the need to come clean. Maybe it is my quixotic tendencies but I tend to be a believer that truth is not so easily discerned!

Of course, I understand why the author chose to write his redemption this way, but it begged the question: Why do our characters – and it’s usually our male characters – have to be redeemed for us to have closure? Why can’t they stay true to their nature in the beginning? Isn’t it the darkness and imperfections of their character the reasons that we are drawn to them in the first place? Would it have made that much of a difference had he lied, especially if it was in the name of protecting her? Thoughts?

So while the book slumbered along in places, I kept on reading. As such, I will most likely go back to the first book and see if she delivers just as, if not more successfully, than this one. Either way, I will surely let you know when I do…

Happy Reading!
FindingAlpha

PS – I forgot to mention that there was also this unnecessary intrigue at the end in which our heroine is kidnapped. It really had no business being there, and I continue to question the inclusion of tedious plot twists that add nothing in bringing our characters together. They were already together. Just end it already.

Don't Tempt Me

Novel - Don't Tempt Me
Author - Loretta Chase
ISBN-13: 9780061632662

I enjoyed Loretta Chase’s 'Don’t Tempt Me'. I found the novel to be both entertaining and witty. Delightful really.

But with all things positive, I tend to dwell on the negative...

So while I enjoyed reading this book, I don’t think that I care to read it again. Wanting to read a book again, and again, and again (which I do) is the hallmark of a good romance novel in my opinion. To the book’s credit, I was intrigued by the whole escaping the harem plot line, Zoe Octavia’s innuendos and her knowledge of the sexual arts. Nevertheless, all that sexual intimation did not translate to steaminess on the page. If I remember correctly there were approximately two scenes that where our heroine enchants the hero with her sexual prowess, but then the author “pans to the window” and we are left with…nothing but curtain.

And that's it - The main reason why I will not pick up this book again is that I expected more from a female character who lived a concubine for twelve years, a woman who understands the power of her own sexuality, and who has ensnared an equally sexual male. I expected there would be sparks in the bedroom. Instead I was left cold.


In other romance novels, at times it is too unbelievable that the staid Regency woman would be a “cat” in the bedroom, but Zoe Octavia is a harem-girl. It would have been very believable and appropriate to have a little more steam, and maybe even a little more vulgarity - not kinky or Erotica, just more titillation. Zoe’s character seemed open to it, but maybe the author was not. While the Ms. Chase delivered a sound book, I expected more form the sultry harem-girl and her bedroom exploration and actualization with her ducal husband. In the end, it is this reason alone why I would read the book again.

All in all, I recommend this to romance readers (at least once) – lovely story, characterization and engaging plot. Just do not expect the harem-girl to reveal anything about the bedroom you don’t already know.

Happy Reading,
FindingAlpha