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Legend of St. Dwynwen #1
A Winter Scandal
New York Times bestselling author Candace Camp weaves a heartwarming tale, first in a thrilling new series, of Christmastime love, discovery, and scandal. . . .
When plain and proper Thea Bainbridge stumbles upon a baby in the manger of her church’s nativity, she is understandably shocked. Discovering a brooch bearing the insignia of Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, hidden among the child’s clothing, she is certain the dissolute rake is to blame. Incensed, Thea sets out to reproach the arrogant lord—only to find herself utterly swept away.
Gabriel is intrigued by the vivacity in Thea’s flashing gray eyes when she accuses him of fathering the orphan, even as he adamantly maintains his innocence. The brooch is one he remembers all too well, however, and Gabriel is determined to find the mother of the missing child. As the mystery around the baby deepens, Gabriel is continually thrown together with Thea—and finds himself growing more entranced every day.
Even with whispers of winter scandal swirling around them, they cannot deny the longing in their hearts. A longing which promises the best gift of all: a shelter from the storm . . . in each other’s arms.
When plain and proper Thea Bainbridge stumbles upon a baby in the manger of her church’s nativity, she is understandably shocked. Discovering a brooch bearing the insignia of Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, hidden among the child’s clothing, she is certain the dissolute rake is to blame. Incensed, Thea sets out to reproach the arrogant lord—only to find herself utterly swept away.
Gabriel is intrigued by the vivacity in Thea’s flashing gray eyes when she accuses him of fathering the orphan, even as he adamantly maintains his innocence. The brooch is one he remembers all too well, however, and Gabriel is determined to find the mother of the missing child. As the mystery around the baby deepens, Gabriel is continually thrown together with Thea—and finds himself growing more entranced every day.
Even with whispers of winter scandal swirling around them, they cannot deny the longing in their hearts. A longing which promises the best gift of all: a shelter from the storm . . . in each other’s arms.
431 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2011
115 people are currently reading
1568 people want to read
About the author
Candace Camp
121 books1,251 followersCandace Camp is the New York Times bestselling author of over sixty books.
Her first novel, *Bonds of Love*, was published by Jove Publishing in 1978, under the pseudonym Lisa Gregory. Two pseudonyms (Kristin James and Sharon Stephens)and many books later, Candace writes under her own name Candace Camp and still loves creating stories.
Candace lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and is the mother of Young Adult author Anastasia Hopcus.
Her first novel, *Bonds of Love*, was published by Jove Publishing in 1978, under the pseudonym Lisa Gregory. Two pseudonyms (Kristin James and Sharon Stephens)and many books later, Candace writes under her own name Candace Camp and still loves creating stories.
Candace lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and is the mother of Young Adult author Anastasia Hopcus.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
March 15, 2023
The suspense part is way better than the romance and that doesn’t say much for the romance (really?) in this book.
The suspense itself is a dragged-out cloak and dagger stuff. A whodunnit (or a who-ruined-my-sister) that is ludicrously drawn out for page-fill. *Yawn*
Coming back to the romance, my grouses >>>
Pluses>>
The baby is too adorable for words.
The tale of St. Dwynwen really moved me.
Book #2 looks promising. I started there but stopped, to read #1 first as I wanted to understand the sister's story.
The suspense itself is a dragged-out cloak and dagger stuff. A whodunnit (or a who-ruined-my-sister) that is ludicrously drawn out for page-fill. *Yawn*
Coming back to the romance, my grouses >>>
Pluses>>
The baby is too adorable for words.
The tale of St. Dwynwen really moved me.
Book #2 looks promising. I started there but stopped, to read #1 first as I wanted to understand the sister's story.
February 2, 2022
Well, this book was good. But I don't think it would be a book for everyone. You need to like mystery and babies because here we follow the life of a baby left in the church and the quest to discover who his mother is.
I don't think this author is an amazing one but she sure knows how to write and often has great twists to her stories. The twist in this one was quite good!
The only reason it is not better for me is the fact that the hero took waaaaaaaaay too long to propose. He was basically doing what was done to his sister and that was so not okay. Our heroine deserved better. Plus, there were many things I thought would have coused scandal in any other place.
A little rant with spoilers:
I just hate when our main characters have sex without the benefit of marriage and don't even think about the consequences, it's just unnatural. Even nowadays with so many ways to prevent things we still think about diseases and pregnancy. But okay. I probably should lower my rate but the rest of the book was so good that I have not the heart for it.
I don't think this author is an amazing one but she sure knows how to write and often has great twists to her stories. The twist in this one was quite good!
The only reason it is not better for me is the fact that the hero took waaaaaaaaay too long to propose. He was basically doing what was done to his sister and that was so not okay. Our heroine deserved better. Plus, there were many things I thought would have coused scandal in any other place.
A little rant with spoilers:
I just hate when our main characters have sex without the benefit of marriage and don't even think about the consequences, it's just unnatural. Even nowadays with so many ways to prevent things we still think about diseases and pregnancy. But okay. I probably should lower my rate but the rest of the book was so good that I have not the heart for it.
August 28, 2017
Sometimes, silly as it seems,
the people we love the most are the ones
to whom we are most afraid of revealing our foolishness."
October 25, 2011
'It was said that whoever prayed with a truly loving heart to St. Dwynwen here in her chapel would have his or her prayer granted. Some argued that only prayers for love were granted, but others said that the kindly saint would answer even prayers of broader scope...'
Every so often a seemingly innocent event can bring utter clarity to a person--a moment of self realization, if you will. At seven and twenty Thea Bainbridge was considered to be firmly on the shelf. It had never really bothered her until Lord Morecombe came to town. Years ago he'd given Thea her one and only kiss. While the kiss had been significant to her, it obviously hadn't been for him. He didn't even recognize her. While Thea knew it was silly of her to take the lack of recognition to heart, it had after all been ten years, it truly had bothered her. Her marriage prospects were pretty much nonexistent, as she had known practically everyone in the small village of Chesley her whole life. It was this one event, however, that brought her to the realization that all she did was live along the edges of other peoples lives--she truly didn't have one of her own. So in a moment of desperation she said a prayer.
"Please..." She dropped her forehead to her hands , her mind too overset to know what to say. Intercessions, prayers, pleas, tumbled through her head. "Please help me." What did she want? "Give me a life. Please, give me a life of my own." She remained bent over, pain and fear storming through her. For once she could not push it away, could not ignore it, could superimpose work over it. She could only feel the desperate, lonely longing.
No sooner had Thea Bainbridge finished her prayer than she heard a sound. As she looked around she found a baby which had been left in a simple feed box that was to be used as the manger in the church's live nativity scene. Not another soul appeared to be around. It wasn't until later that she noticed the brooch attached the the baby's clothing. "The small elegant piece had an oval of onyx with a gold, ornate scrollwork letter M in the center." It was the same design as she had seen on a ring worn by Lord Morecombe the night before. Little did she know her life was about to change...
This was a delightful read. I truly adored Thea. She was easy to relate to and you couldn't help but sympathize with her. I loved how she was passionate about things and rushed head first into situations without truly thinking before she acted. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but it made her an extremely likeable character. While she seems to have low self esteem when it comes to her looks, she does know her self worth and would never let someone push her around.
Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, was another loveable character. He kept wanting do deny his ever growing feelings for Thea, and used Matthew as an excuse to see her. He is fiercely loyal to his family and is willing to take in his sister even if what transpired over a year ago included a scandal. Though he's a confirmed bachelor when Thea first shows up on his doorstep with Matthew, he's ready to take responsibility for him when her realizes the baby could be his sister's.
The mystery associated with what happened to Gabriel's sister, Jocelyn, over a year ago added a nice amount of drama to the story. I enjoyed how we slowly learn more about what happened as the story unfolds and end up questioning things as we find out more. I also liked learning how Jocelyn's leaving impacted the relationship between Rawdon and Gabriel. It was interesting to learn why Gabriel was so quick to blame his long time friend for Jocelyn's running away and calling off her engagement to him.
I hope future books in the series will include more of Rawdon and Damaris. They were my favorite secondary characters. I don't know if the two will end up together, but I definitely think there's more to each of them then meets the eye. I think Damaris has a secret past that could be interesting to find out about. Rawdon, on the other hand, just seemed like such an intriguing character. He's been condemned by everyone for his family's past. I'd like to learn more about him.
Gabriel and Thea definitely had the kind of attraction that sent sparks flying and totally engulfed them when they finally gave in to their desires. The two seemed perfect for each other. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating - too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you look flustered and flushed. Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I felt this was nice blend of mystery and romance. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Side Note: There truly is a tale about St. Dwynwen. Wikipedia has her listed as the Welsh patron saint of lovers. She is also the patron saint of sick animals. The tale related to Dwynwen is pretty much the same as that included in 'A Winter Scandal' although there are variations. To learn more about St. Dwynwen check Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwynwen
Every so often a seemingly innocent event can bring utter clarity to a person--a moment of self realization, if you will. At seven and twenty Thea Bainbridge was considered to be firmly on the shelf. It had never really bothered her until Lord Morecombe came to town. Years ago he'd given Thea her one and only kiss. While the kiss had been significant to her, it obviously hadn't been for him. He didn't even recognize her. While Thea knew it was silly of her to take the lack of recognition to heart, it had after all been ten years, it truly had bothered her. Her marriage prospects were pretty much nonexistent, as she had known practically everyone in the small village of Chesley her whole life. It was this one event, however, that brought her to the realization that all she did was live along the edges of other peoples lives--she truly didn't have one of her own. So in a moment of desperation she said a prayer.
"Please..." She dropped her forehead to her hands , her mind too overset to know what to say. Intercessions, prayers, pleas, tumbled through her head. "Please help me." What did she want? "Give me a life. Please, give me a life of my own." She remained bent over, pain and fear storming through her. For once she could not push it away, could not ignore it, could superimpose work over it. She could only feel the desperate, lonely longing.
No sooner had Thea Bainbridge finished her prayer than she heard a sound. As she looked around she found a baby which had been left in a simple feed box that was to be used as the manger in the church's live nativity scene. Not another soul appeared to be around. It wasn't until later that she noticed the brooch attached the the baby's clothing. "The small elegant piece had an oval of onyx with a gold, ornate scrollwork letter M in the center." It was the same design as she had seen on a ring worn by Lord Morecombe the night before. Little did she know her life was about to change...
This was a delightful read. I truly adored Thea. She was easy to relate to and you couldn't help but sympathize with her. I loved how she was passionate about things and rushed head first into situations without truly thinking before she acted. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but it made her an extremely likeable character. While she seems to have low self esteem when it comes to her looks, she does know her self worth and would never let someone push her around.
Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, was another loveable character. He kept wanting do deny his ever growing feelings for Thea, and used Matthew as an excuse to see her. He is fiercely loyal to his family and is willing to take in his sister even if what transpired over a year ago included a scandal. Though he's a confirmed bachelor when Thea first shows up on his doorstep with Matthew, he's ready to take responsibility for him when her realizes the baby could be his sister's.
The mystery associated with what happened to Gabriel's sister, Jocelyn, over a year ago added a nice amount of drama to the story. I enjoyed how we slowly learn more about what happened as the story unfolds and end up questioning things as we find out more. I also liked learning how Jocelyn's leaving impacted the relationship between Rawdon and Gabriel. It was interesting to learn why Gabriel was so quick to blame his long time friend for Jocelyn's running away and calling off her engagement to him.
I hope future books in the series will include more of Rawdon and Damaris. They were my favorite secondary characters. I don't know if the two will end up together, but I definitely think there's more to each of them then meets the eye. I think Damaris has a secret past that could be interesting to find out about. Rawdon, on the other hand, just seemed like such an intriguing character. He's been condemned by everyone for his family's past. I'd like to learn more about him.
Gabriel and Thea definitely had the kind of attraction that sent sparks flying and totally engulfed them when they finally gave in to their desires. The two seemed perfect for each other. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating - too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you look flustered and flushed. Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses. I felt this was nice blend of mystery and romance. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Side Note: There truly is a tale about St. Dwynwen. Wikipedia has her listed as the Welsh patron saint of lovers. She is also the patron saint of sick animals. The tale related to Dwynwen is pretty much the same as that included in 'A Winter Scandal' although there are variations. To learn more about St. Dwynwen check Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwynwen
September 9, 2012
Thea Bainbridge is an ape-leader, as they liked to call spinsters back in the day. She's plainish, wears browns and grays, and is possessed of a very blunt tongue, which she thinks may explain her lack of suitors. She lives with her brother Daniel, who has taken their father's position as vicar in their little village of Chesley. She listens to Daniel's prosing about Roman ruins, and writes "suggestions" for his sermons (in other words she writes the sermons), and basically does most of the other pastoral stuff. And she dreads the day when Daniel marries, and she, with no life of her own, will have to find a way to go on.
Chesley's little chapel has an ancient statue of St. Dwynwyn, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. One night, as Thea's preparing the chapel for the church's annual Christmas pageant, she lights a candle and prays for her life to change. Next thing she knows, the little manger for the pageant has a baby in it.
She takes the baby home, and in the process of tending him, she and a servant discover a brooch pinned to his nappies that has a distinctive design on it—one she's seen before on a ring worn by a new sensation in Chesley, one Lord Morecomb (Gabriel to his friends). Seems that Thea's one kiss, ten years ago, was bestowed upon her by the very same Lord Morecomb, and she was all
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Whereas he had the unmitigated gall to
Worse, the rumors abound that he and a passel of his chums are up at his new den of iniquity, doing whatever it is that rakish, debauched single (and not so single) males do in such places.
Did somebody say Stag Party?
Naturally, Thea jumps to the worst possible conclusions, and decides to schlep the baby up to the Priory (ironically that's the name of Gabriel's "den of iniquity") and confront the wayward father. Which she does, scolding him roundly in front of his friends for his inability to keep his placket buttoned, and failure to do right by the bastards he's no doubt salted all over England.
And it's love atfirst second third sight for Gabriel. Here's this prim little wench with a baby on her hip, her hair tumbled out of its normally severe 'do, and her fichu askew (nice rhyme). Seems he digs flashing gray eyes and maybe he's into the, um, bossy type.
Then she shows him the brooch, and all bets are off. Seems it belonged to his sister, Jocelyn, who ran off just before her wedding to a friend (now ex-friend) of Gabe's, just over a year ago. He hasn't heard a word from her since. So now he's all up in Thea's face, demanding to know how she got the brooch and where she got the baby, who, come to think of it, looks a little like his sister…
The two of them embark on a bit of sleuthing, trying to figure out where the baby came from. All sorts of people pop up from the past, and there are so doggoned many good suspects to blame for Jocelyn's disappearance that, although I usually figure out the "whodunit" within the first few chapters, I was still guessing right up to the end this time. I always like a good mystery.
The book is slow to start, but I laughed at the scene where two men are fighting and all their buddies are just standing around watching, so Thea more or less hoses them down. The affection between the H/h develops at a nice pace, and there are a couple sweet scenes leading up to the HEA.
Chesley's little chapel has an ancient statue of St. Dwynwyn, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. One night, as Thea's preparing the chapel for the church's annual Christmas pageant, she lights a candle and prays for her life to change. Next thing she knows, the little manger for the pageant has a baby in it.
She takes the baby home, and in the process of tending him, she and a servant discover a brooch pinned to his nappies that has a distinctive design on it—one she's seen before on a ring worn by a new sensation in Chesley, one Lord Morecomb (Gabriel to his friends). Seems that Thea's one kiss, ten years ago, was bestowed upon her by the very same Lord Morecomb, and she was all
[image error]
Whereas he had the unmitigated gall to
Worse, the rumors abound that he and a passel of his chums are up at his new den of iniquity, doing whatever it is that rakish, debauched single (and not so single) males do in such places.
Did somebody say Stag Party?
Naturally, Thea jumps to the worst possible conclusions, and decides to schlep the baby up to the Priory (ironically that's the name of Gabriel's "den of iniquity") and confront the wayward father. Which she does, scolding him roundly in front of his friends for his inability to keep his placket buttoned, and failure to do right by the bastards he's no doubt salted all over England.
And it's love at
Then she shows him the brooch, and all bets are off. Seems it belonged to his sister, Jocelyn, who ran off just before her wedding to a friend (now ex-friend) of Gabe's, just over a year ago. He hasn't heard a word from her since. So now he's all up in Thea's face, demanding to know how she got the brooch and where she got the baby, who, come to think of it, looks a little like his sister…
The two of them embark on a bit of sleuthing, trying to figure out where the baby came from. All sorts of people pop up from the past, and there are so doggoned many good suspects to blame for Jocelyn's disappearance that, although I usually figure out the "whodunit" within the first few chapters, I was still guessing right up to the end this time. I always like a good mystery.
The book is slow to start, but I laughed at the scene where two men are fighting and all their buddies are just standing around watching, so Thea more or less hoses them down. The affection between the H/h develops at a nice pace, and there are a couple sweet scenes leading up to the HEA.
November 15, 2011
This was not the worst book I've ever read, but there were many moments when all I could do was shake my head. Mainly this was because of the overwhelming feeling of anachronism in terms of how the hero and heroine relate to each other.
Pros:
Generally pleasant, reasonably good grammar (with a few silly errors, like "I believe I have not been formerly introduced to this young man"), unusual secret baby plot, and a plain(ish) and older heroine (late 20s).
Cons:
First, the one unique/interesting characteristic of heroine (her theological bent) is not developed at all. There are references to her writing sermons but little else. This could have been really interesting (e.g., like the woman priest protagonist of Julia Spencer-Fleming). Instead, it was more like window-dressing.
Second, there's obvious sequel bait in supporting characters. That's annoying to me.
Last, the main fly in the ointment: Despite the fact that a big part of the plot revolves around a baby presumed to have been born out of wedlock, at no point do the protagonists consider the possible outcome of their own extra-marital sex. (And there are clear descriptions indicating that no precautions are taken.)
And, despite the fact that the heroine is (at the outset) the virginal spinster daughter and sister of small-town vicars, apparently, she's an appropriate person to have sex with, without ever considering that marriage maybe should be part of the deal. The hero actually reflects, about 80% of the way through the book, "Was he actually thinking of marriage? Surely not." Why "surely" not? He's not concerned about destroying the heroine's life in her village? Impregnating her? "Surely" it should at least be on his mental horizon as a real possibility, no? It's a poor way to stretch out the 'suspense' of the building romance.
Now, I'm not personally (as a 21st century woman) opposed to sex outside of marriage, but I do have trouble believing in these people being fine with it. He's a little rakish, but generally presented as kind, rather than callous and dissipated. She's consistently presented as someone who wants to be a good person. There's some lip service to "sin" and whatnot, but nothing that gets in the way of, say, having sex up against a wall in the vicarage.
I think I have a reasonable tolerance for some flexibility in terms of accuracy in historical romances, but this seemed so implausible I was rolling my eyes more than enjoying it.
Pros:
Generally pleasant, reasonably good grammar (with a few silly errors, like "I believe I have not been formerly introduced to this young man"), unusual secret baby plot, and a plain(ish) and older heroine (late 20s).
Cons:
First, the one unique/interesting characteristic of heroine (her theological bent) is not developed at all. There are references to her writing sermons but little else. This could have been really interesting (e.g., like the woman priest protagonist of Julia Spencer-Fleming). Instead, it was more like window-dressing.
Second, there's obvious sequel bait in supporting characters. That's annoying to me.
Last, the main fly in the ointment: Despite the fact that a big part of the plot revolves around a baby presumed to have been born out of wedlock, at no point do the protagonists consider the possible outcome of their own extra-marital sex. (And there are clear descriptions indicating that no precautions are taken.)
And, despite the fact that the heroine is (at the outset) the virginal spinster daughter and sister of small-town vicars, apparently, she's an appropriate person to have sex with, without ever considering that marriage maybe should be part of the deal. The hero actually reflects, about 80% of the way through the book, "Was he actually thinking of marriage? Surely not." Why "surely" not? He's not concerned about destroying the heroine's life in her village? Impregnating her? "Surely" it should at least be on his mental horizon as a real possibility, no? It's a poor way to stretch out the 'suspense' of the building romance.
Now, I'm not personally (as a 21st century woman) opposed to sex outside of marriage, but I do have trouble believing in these people being fine with it. He's a little rakish, but generally presented as kind, rather than callous and dissipated. She's consistently presented as someone who wants to be a good person. There's some lip service to "sin" and whatnot, but nothing that gets in the way of, say, having sex up against a wall in the vicarage.
I think I have a reasonable tolerance for some flexibility in terms of accuracy in historical romances, but this seemed so implausible I was rolling my eyes more than enjoying it.
May 11, 2018
Obvious villain, cute romance, inappropriate sex and oh can I please, please, play with that baby, he was utterly adorable! The cheesy ending made me smile, a real, actually on my face, not just in my head smile. His comment on eyesight was stellar. All in a fun romp.
December 18, 2011
I have really lucked out with my Christmas romance selections this year, and I finished with the best of them all. You know what I like best about this one? It's really, truly about Christmas. It doesn't feel like a romance with a Christmas theme tacked on; it's a real Christmas story with the added bonus of a terrific love story. In fact, it has all the right elements blended perfectly to create one excellent Christmas romance.
It begins with a Christmas ball and a real baby found abandoned in the nativity manger--how great a beginning is that? The romantic leads are well-developed--Thea, the vicar's sister, suffering from a case of perceived ugly duckling syndrome disguised with a sharp tongue, and Gabriel, the jaded lord seeking respite from the falseness of London's high society. It was great fun to watch their banter grow into true regard and affection as they worked together to track down the child's missing mother. It has an idyllic English countryside village setting, full of Christmas traditions and holiday cheer. Intriguing supporting characters, realistic romance, steamy sexual tension and smokin' hot lovin', an unpredictable mystery with a surprise twist I didn't see coming, and a wonderfully romantic ending.
It made me laugh, it made my cry--it was the perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire on this cold weekend before Christmas, and I am looking forward to the next book in this series!
It begins with a Christmas ball and a real baby found abandoned in the nativity manger--how great a beginning is that? The romantic leads are well-developed--Thea, the vicar's sister, suffering from a case of perceived ugly duckling syndrome disguised with a sharp tongue, and Gabriel, the jaded lord seeking respite from the falseness of London's high society. It was great fun to watch their banter grow into true regard and affection as they worked together to track down the child's missing mother. It has an idyllic English countryside village setting, full of Christmas traditions and holiday cheer. Intriguing supporting characters, realistic romance, steamy sexual tension and smokin' hot lovin', an unpredictable mystery with a surprise twist I didn't see coming, and a wonderfully romantic ending.
It made me laugh, it made my cry--it was the perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire on this cold weekend before Christmas, and I am looking forward to the next book in this series!
June 26, 2013
2.5-3 stars.
SEE HERE'S THE THING: I LIKED THEA. I thought she was spunky and unique and I enjoyed her as a heroine muchly.
Gabriel, however, was a blank of a hero. Camp seems to do this thing (at least within the St. Dwynwen series) where she has the traditional POV trade-off for the first 3 chapters or so...and then the large majority of rest of the story is entirely told from the POV of the heroine. Which is fine!
It's just not what I was expecting, and it makes getting a handle on the hero rather difficult.
I also felt like there was a bit too much "summing up" of their relationship? Like, the text itself is so busy attempting to establish sexual tension that when the characters do get down to connecting and bonding and ~falling in love, it felt hurried and more like telling than showing.
SEE HERE'S THE THING: I LIKED THEA. I thought she was spunky and unique and I enjoyed her as a heroine muchly.
Gabriel, however, was a blank of a hero. Camp seems to do this thing (at least within the St. Dwynwen series) where she has the traditional POV trade-off for the first 3 chapters or so...and then the large majority of rest of the story is entirely told from the POV of the heroine. Which is fine!
It's just not what I was expecting, and it makes getting a handle on the hero rather difficult.
I also felt like there was a bit too much "summing up" of their relationship? Like, the text itself is so busy attempting to establish sexual tension that when the characters do get down to connecting and bonding and ~falling in love, it felt hurried and more like telling than showing.
December 1, 2025
Nice and spicy, with excellent characters, A Winter Scandal satisfies the wish for a good romance set during the Christmas season. Thea, the main character, is the very picture of a competent woman who never yearned for a man until she met Gabriel, who himself has never found a woman he can't resist. Surround this romance with a mystery concerning Gabriel's sister and her child, and you have a fine read.
My only complaints are, first, that the book sags markedly in the middle, with the search for said sister going on and on and on and on, and second, that no one ever considers the possibility of pregnancy resulting from all the passion -- a life-destroying occurrence in several different ways at that time and place. Still, it is such fun watching this romance develop that it is well-worth struggling through the slow part. I'm definitely going to be purchasing and reading the next books in the series!
My only complaints are, first, that the book sags markedly in the middle, with the search for said sister going on and on and on and on, and second, that no one ever considers the possibility of pregnancy resulting from all the passion -- a life-destroying occurrence in several different ways at that time and place. Still, it is such fun watching this romance develop that it is well-worth struggling through the slow part. I'm definitely going to be purchasing and reading the next books in the series!
February 24, 2016
Reading Binges are the best, but one downside to reading one book after the other, is not writing those reviews right away. I’m struggling a bit with my review for A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp because I finished it more than 10 days ago, and I can’t remember a lot of the details. Which, actually, does say something about the book itself. I absolutely really liked A Winter Scandal, but it’s clearly not a book that stuck with me.
Althea is the heroine of A Winter Scandal, and I liked her very much. She’s the village vicar’s sister, and she’s a spinster. Althea has accepted this, but she isn’t happy with her life. She feels even worse when Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, a man she met when she was a teenager, doesn’t even recognize her. But, then she finds a baby, abandoned at the manger at the church. Trying to locate the baby’s (Thea names him Matthew) mother, leads to Thea and Gabriel spending lots of time together and they get closer and closer.
As I said, I liked Thea so much. She’s very relatable, and I love how devoted she becomes to Matthew. I could also relate to her feeling unhappy in her life, but not really having a way to change things. What did frustrate me a bit, though, was her acceptance that nothing permanent could come of her and Gabriel’s relationship. This being a romance, you all realize that she gets together with him. But never does she say to him, after they’ve been together, that she deserves to be a permanent person in his life. And I found that a little annoying.
Not that Gabriel was really going to ditch Thea once they got together. Actually, once Gabriel started helping Thea and Matthew I liked him so much. Even when I wasn’t in love with him, I could tell that he was a genuinely nice guy, if a little arrogant and used to getting his way. He is an aristocrat after all, with a title and a fortune.
I was SERIOUSLY shipping these two. I mean, they were just so darn adorable together. I loved Gabriel's obsession with Thea's wild and crazy curls.
One part that was lacking was the mystery part. I mean, I called it from almost the beginning. Granted, I’m not reading a historical romance for the mystery, but after awhile I couldn’t help wondering how Thea and Gabriel couldn’t figure it out. Or at least have suspicions.
A Winter Scandal, though, was still so enjoyable, and it was a great introduction to Candace Camp, an author I definitely want to read more of.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
Althea is the heroine of A Winter Scandal, and I liked her very much. She’s the village vicar’s sister, and she’s a spinster. Althea has accepted this, but she isn’t happy with her life. She feels even worse when Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, a man she met when she was a teenager, doesn’t even recognize her. But, then she finds a baby, abandoned at the manger at the church. Trying to locate the baby’s (Thea names him Matthew) mother, leads to Thea and Gabriel spending lots of time together and they get closer and closer.
As I said, I liked Thea so much. She’s very relatable, and I love how devoted she becomes to Matthew. I could also relate to her feeling unhappy in her life, but not really having a way to change things. What did frustrate me a bit, though, was her acceptance that nothing permanent could come of her and Gabriel’s relationship. This being a romance, you all realize that she gets together with him. But never does she say to him, after they’ve been together, that she deserves to be a permanent person in his life. And I found that a little annoying.
Not that Gabriel was really going to ditch Thea once they got together. Actually, once Gabriel started helping Thea and Matthew I liked him so much. Even when I wasn’t in love with him, I could tell that he was a genuinely nice guy, if a little arrogant and used to getting his way. He is an aristocrat after all, with a title and a fortune.
I was SERIOUSLY shipping these two. I mean, they were just so darn adorable together. I loved Gabriel's obsession with Thea's wild and crazy curls.
One part that was lacking was the mystery part. I mean, I called it from almost the beginning. Granted, I’m not reading a historical romance for the mystery, but after awhile I couldn’t help wondering how Thea and Gabriel couldn’t figure it out. Or at least have suspicions.
A Winter Scandal, though, was still so enjoyable, and it was a great introduction to Candace Camp, an author I definitely want to read more of.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
January 11, 2012
This book is really hard for me to rate. There is a storyline with a lot of twists and turns. There is a great hero and an OK heroine. The story is about a baby left in a manger at church and Thea (the heroine) finds him. It comes to believe that the baby belongs to Gabriel's (the hero) sister. A baby she had out of wedlock and then disappeared. Well of course the hero and heroine get together (unmarried) but it never occurs to Thea the same could happen to her? I find that part of the story so odd. A great hero though.
July 13, 2013
LMAO, that hasty resolution! I did enjoy this, though to be thoroughly honest I found the romance somewhat thin at parts. BUT YO, A BABY!!! Perhaps the book's greatest achievement is that I'm legit excited to read the next book in the series versus wanting to skip right ahead to the last book (COLD LADY/FLIRTY GUY!!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BURY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).
Bonus for nerds: there is cunnilingus in this book!!!!!!!! HIGH FIVE FOR TEAM CUNNILINGUS AVENGERS, WE RIDE AT DAWN
Bonus for nerds: there is cunnilingus in this book!!!!!!!! HIGH FIVE FOR TEAM CUNNILINGUS AVENGERS, WE RIDE AT DAWN
November 1, 2015
I'm so glad I decided to start this series! It was not a perfect book but I loved how easy and angst free it was. I LOVED LOVED LOVED baby Mathew too. We don't usually get babies in HR but it made me love both leads for how much they loved him too, especially Gabriel. I also enjoyed the mystery. I'm glad that we got a nice romance and an interesting plot. It's not a common thing so it makes me appreciate the book even more.
I will be keeping an eye on his author for sure!
I will be keeping an eye on his author for sure!
June 1, 2017
Good book. Thea is the sister of the village vicar, twenty-seven and considered firmly "on the shelf". She considers herself to be quite plain and tries to convince herself that she is content with her quiet life and assisting her brother. But after a local ball, where she encounters a man from her past, she realizes that she really wants a chance at a life and love of her own. When she discovers a baby abandoned in the manger of the church nativity scene, a brooch hidden in the child's clothing convinces her she knows who is responsible. Furious, she rushes off to confront the town's newest resident.
Gabriel recently purchased the manor house and has brought a few friends to stay for the holidays. He attended the local ball, barely noticing the various women he was introduced to. He is shocked when one of those women bursts into his home, accusing him of fathering the abandoned baby. Though he knows he's innocent of the charge, he does recognize the brooch as belonging to his sister, and is determined to find her.
I loved that confrontation between Thea and Gabriel. She's so certain that she's right, that he's the typical rakish nobleman, and she's going to set him straight about his actions. He's simply stunned by her accusations, then in shock when he sees the brooch. With his reactions, he comes across as cold and arrogant, but once they both calm down they realize they want the same thing - to find the baby's mother. It also becomes obvious that there is something more flaring between them. Gabriel is intrigued by the woman who doesn't behave like the ones he's used to. She's forthright, smart, loving toward little Matthew, and not afraid to stand up to him. I loved the banter between them. He's very good a teasing her because he loves her reactions. I also enjoyed seeing Thea's attempts to rein him in.
As they are thrown together in their search for Gabriel's sister, they develop a friendship that quickly grows into more. There is no denying the attraction that flares between them. Thea's normally quick wits have a tendency to get scrambled when Gabriel gets too close, and he has a hard time not kissing her at every opportunity. That attraction continues to grow until it bursts into flame and they succumb to their desire. It's pretty obvious that there's more than just passion between them, but neither one can see it. Gabriel's mind is fixated on the fact that his plans aren't to marry for several years yet, so marriage to Thea never occurs to him (in spite of what they have been doing). Thea is simply trying not to let her emotions get involved, because she doesn't believe a nobleman like him would be interested in a plain jane girl like her for anything other than a short liaison. I liked seeing the changes that both go through, as Gabriel's attentions have Thea breaking out of the shell she'd been in for so long. I also liked seeing Gabriel open up to Thea about what had happened with his sister, and how she helps him see that he's not to blame. I did wonder how long it was going to take him to realize the truth of his feelings for Thea, but he came through in a really sweet way at the end.
The mystery of baby Matthew and his mother was well done. There were so few clues at the beginning that it built the intensity just a bit, until things started to come together. From the kidnapping on, I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Just when I thought I knew who to blame, a sudden twist threw it all into doubt. The revelation of the truth was exciting and bittersweet, as the final confrontation revealed an unexpected player.
The secondary characters were great and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the other books. I am especially intrigued by Thea's friend Damaris, who I suspect has a very interesting history. Lord Rawdon is another who made a big impression. He seems so cold at first, and his history with Gabriel is complicated. I loved the fight scene between them, and Thea's way of dealing with it. I also liked Myles, who had a good head on his shoulders and was the voice of reason throughout. But my favorite was baby Matthew. It was so much fun to see everyone's reactions to him. He was such a little sweetheart and had everyone charmed. There were some really sweet scenes with him and Thea and Gabriel.
Gabriel recently purchased the manor house and has brought a few friends to stay for the holidays. He attended the local ball, barely noticing the various women he was introduced to. He is shocked when one of those women bursts into his home, accusing him of fathering the abandoned baby. Though he knows he's innocent of the charge, he does recognize the brooch as belonging to his sister, and is determined to find her.
I loved that confrontation between Thea and Gabriel. She's so certain that she's right, that he's the typical rakish nobleman, and she's going to set him straight about his actions. He's simply stunned by her accusations, then in shock when he sees the brooch. With his reactions, he comes across as cold and arrogant, but once they both calm down they realize they want the same thing - to find the baby's mother. It also becomes obvious that there is something more flaring between them. Gabriel is intrigued by the woman who doesn't behave like the ones he's used to. She's forthright, smart, loving toward little Matthew, and not afraid to stand up to him. I loved the banter between them. He's very good a teasing her because he loves her reactions. I also enjoyed seeing Thea's attempts to rein him in.
As they are thrown together in their search for Gabriel's sister, they develop a friendship that quickly grows into more. There is no denying the attraction that flares between them. Thea's normally quick wits have a tendency to get scrambled when Gabriel gets too close, and he has a hard time not kissing her at every opportunity. That attraction continues to grow until it bursts into flame and they succumb to their desire. It's pretty obvious that there's more than just passion between them, but neither one can see it. Gabriel's mind is fixated on the fact that his plans aren't to marry for several years yet, so marriage to Thea never occurs to him (in spite of what they have been doing). Thea is simply trying not to let her emotions get involved, because she doesn't believe a nobleman like him would be interested in a plain jane girl like her for anything other than a short liaison. I liked seeing the changes that both go through, as Gabriel's attentions have Thea breaking out of the shell she'd been in for so long. I also liked seeing Gabriel open up to Thea about what had happened with his sister, and how she helps him see that he's not to blame. I did wonder how long it was going to take him to realize the truth of his feelings for Thea, but he came through in a really sweet way at the end.
The mystery of baby Matthew and his mother was well done. There were so few clues at the beginning that it built the intensity just a bit, until things started to come together. From the kidnapping on, I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Just when I thought I knew who to blame, a sudden twist threw it all into doubt. The revelation of the truth was exciting and bittersweet, as the final confrontation revealed an unexpected player.
The secondary characters were great and I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the other books. I am especially intrigued by Thea's friend Damaris, who I suspect has a very interesting history. Lord Rawdon is another who made a big impression. He seems so cold at first, and his history with Gabriel is complicated. I loved the fight scene between them, and Thea's way of dealing with it. I also liked Myles, who had a good head on his shoulders and was the voice of reason throughout. But my favorite was baby Matthew. It was so much fun to see everyone's reactions to him. He was such a little sweetheart and had everyone charmed. There were some really sweet scenes with him and Thea and Gabriel.
March 28, 2020
https://lottensbokblogg.wordpress.com...
I julas var dottern på besök och när jag på nyårsdagen suktade efter en romance så valde hon ut den här åt mig. Jag läste den på hennes ipod. Nedan följer först hennes omdöme, sedan mitt.
Dotterns omdöme
A winter scandal har alla element jag tycker de bästa romance-böckerna tycks ha, så som någorlunda intelligenta huvudkaraktärer, ett logiskt händelseförlopp och en bra och trovärdig kemi mellan karaktärerna. Dessutom så har de ett liv (som påverkar handlingen) utanför romansen. Thea är en smart, självständig och sympatisk kvinna. Gabriel är en självsäker och generös man. Och jag älskar hur de är tillsammans.
Funderar man på att läsa denna bok så bör man ha i åtanke att den utspelar sig på 1800-talet i England, den är en del i en serie och den är inte clean (alltså innehåller den sex-scener). Jag rekommenderar den starkt (vilket är en av anledningarna till att mamma läste den).
Mitt omdöme
A Winter Scandal är bra romance med många komponenter som jag gillar. Jag ”hetsläste” den under en dag så vissa delar blev förmodligen för snabbt lästa. Språket i A Winter Scandal uppfattade jag som lite gammaldags, och att det tog ett tag att komma in i det språkliga, men sen var den lättläst.
Jag gillar att det är två vuxna personer som det handlar om och deras attraktion är trovärdig. Thea är 27 (26?) år och har genomlevt en del innan, men det är lite oklart varför hon inte tidigare hittat någon partner. Relationen mellan Thea och Gabriel är en relation mellan två vuxna personer, och A Winter Scandal innehåller mer sex än en del andra böcker jag läst inom regency romance. I romance handlar en del om hinder varför man inte kan bli ett par. och det tycker jag är lite oklart. Det känns som om det är mer att de tror att andra skulle ha invändningar än att det verkligen finns invändningar.
I A Winter Scandal är det mer fokus på ”runtomkringhistorien” än en del andra romance. Det är en spänningshistoria som hade kunnat stå på egna ben utan romance.
Jag skulle definitivt kunna tänka mig att läsa mer av Candace Camp
Omdöme: Bra romance med spänningsmoment
Betyg: 4-
I julas var dottern på besök och när jag på nyårsdagen suktade efter en romance så valde hon ut den här åt mig. Jag läste den på hennes ipod. Nedan följer först hennes omdöme, sedan mitt.
Dotterns omdöme
A winter scandal har alla element jag tycker de bästa romance-böckerna tycks ha, så som någorlunda intelligenta huvudkaraktärer, ett logiskt händelseförlopp och en bra och trovärdig kemi mellan karaktärerna. Dessutom så har de ett liv (som påverkar handlingen) utanför romansen. Thea är en smart, självständig och sympatisk kvinna. Gabriel är en självsäker och generös man. Och jag älskar hur de är tillsammans.
Funderar man på att läsa denna bok så bör man ha i åtanke att den utspelar sig på 1800-talet i England, den är en del i en serie och den är inte clean (alltså innehåller den sex-scener). Jag rekommenderar den starkt (vilket är en av anledningarna till att mamma läste den).
Mitt omdöme
A Winter Scandal är bra romance med många komponenter som jag gillar. Jag ”hetsläste” den under en dag så vissa delar blev förmodligen för snabbt lästa. Språket i A Winter Scandal uppfattade jag som lite gammaldags, och att det tog ett tag att komma in i det språkliga, men sen var den lättläst.
Jag gillar att det är två vuxna personer som det handlar om och deras attraktion är trovärdig. Thea är 27 (26?) år och har genomlevt en del innan, men det är lite oklart varför hon inte tidigare hittat någon partner. Relationen mellan Thea och Gabriel är en relation mellan två vuxna personer, och A Winter Scandal innehåller mer sex än en del andra böcker jag läst inom regency romance. I romance handlar en del om hinder varför man inte kan bli ett par. och det tycker jag är lite oklart. Det känns som om det är mer att de tror att andra skulle ha invändningar än att det verkligen finns invändningar.
I A Winter Scandal är det mer fokus på ”runtomkringhistorien” än en del andra romance. Det är en spänningshistoria som hade kunnat stå på egna ben utan romance.
Jag skulle definitivt kunna tänka mig att läsa mer av Candace Camp
Omdöme: Bra romance med spänningsmoment
Betyg: 4-
November 14, 2021
3.5 stars
February 22, 2020
More of a 2.5 - I'm long past my love of the "plain jane"/She's All That sort of romance. I find it rather unlikely in most cases where the Hero and Heroine have met countless times before.
I mainly was in it to find out who fathered the kid (shocker - you'll guess pretty easily based on behaviors of the candidates) and what happened to the mother. For what its worth how the mother disappeared was surprising if not the rest of it.
I mainly was in it to find out who fathered the kid (shocker - you'll guess pretty easily based on behaviors of the candidates) and what happened to the mother. For what its worth how the mother disappeared was surprising if not the rest of it.
October 23, 2015
This was such an amazing Christmas-time romance. Thea is a great heroine, a spinster and bit of a book nerd - she was just up my alley. When she finds a baby - a real one - in the church's manger scene she has no idea the mystery she's about to be caught up in. When she confronts who she thinks the father is - she really isn't expecting the sparks to fly like they do.
Gabriel is intrigued by the vicar's sister and her fiery personality. They seem to be so opposite, but when it really comes down to it, they both want the same thing. They want to find who left the child and make sure the child is taken care of. This search takes them to some pretty interesting places - and underneath a lot of mistletoe!!
Mistletoe can be a dangerous thing. Feelings start to happen and then suddenly you find out you might be falling in love. Thea's physical response to Gabriel is perfect. It's just what I needed from an older regency woman who has been "put on the shelf." Their romance was a great one - built on shared interests and experiences, and it grew over time into something wonderful.
The mystery of the baby will be solved, but it is a little bittersweet in the outcome. Be prepared for some surprises, because not much is as it seems when it comes to the search. There's a bit of excitement and danger as well that added a very nice touch.
Gabriel is intrigued by the vicar's sister and her fiery personality. They seem to be so opposite, but when it really comes down to it, they both want the same thing. They want to find who left the child and make sure the child is taken care of. This search takes them to some pretty interesting places - and underneath a lot of mistletoe!!
Mistletoe can be a dangerous thing. Feelings start to happen and then suddenly you find out you might be falling in love. Thea's physical response to Gabriel is perfect. It's just what I needed from an older regency woman who has been "put on the shelf." Their romance was a great one - built on shared interests and experiences, and it grew over time into something wonderful.
The mystery of the baby will be solved, but it is a little bittersweet in the outcome. Be prepared for some surprises, because not much is as it seems when it comes to the search. There's a bit of excitement and danger as well that added a very nice touch.
July 11, 2012
I really enjoyed this story about Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, falling in love with a nobody, plain spinster vicar's sister, Thea. She has found his sister's baby abandoned in their church's manger with a brooch adorned with Gabriel's family's crest. Assuming the baby to be his illegitimate son, she charges to his estate accusing him. He recognizes the brooch as belonging to his missing sister. The story revolves around solving her disappearance.
I loved Thea's character. She was honest and never denied her passion for Gabriel. But she always tried to stay realistic knowing he could never marry her since their stations were so far apart. I wish, however, that it hadn't taken Gabriel so long to profess his love. It's obvious he doesn't want to live without her. But he never declares his love until the end. Of course, Thea doesn't either being hesitant about pressuring him. Plus the whole story takes place in a matter of days.
The baby is adorable. That was an added bonus to the story. We can only assume they ended up raising him as their own. A really sweet Cinderella-type story. I just love those!
I loved Thea's character. She was honest and never denied her passion for Gabriel. But she always tried to stay realistic knowing he could never marry her since their stations were so far apart. I wish, however, that it hadn't taken Gabriel so long to profess his love. It's obvious he doesn't want to live without her. But he never declares his love until the end. Of course, Thea doesn't either being hesitant about pressuring him. Plus the whole story takes place in a matter of days.
The baby is adorable. That was an added bonus to the story. We can only assume they ended up raising him as their own. A really sweet Cinderella-type story. I just love those!
March 16, 2018
I liked the this story. I liked the idea of a found baby and the heroine confronting the local rake because she thinks it's his by-blow. I also liked the characters, both the main and the secondary ones.
My only criticism is that one of the central storylines of the book is that the hero believes his sister was ruined and had a child out of wedlock, so it makes it frustrating that when the hero and heroine begin a sexual relationship the hero never once thinks about the possibility of the heroine becoming pregnant. The couple make no attempt to take precautions, I could blame that on the heroine's lack of experience, but the hero should know better. This would have been fine if the hero was shown as being willing to accept the consequences, but even after they begin having sex he is still thinking that he is not ready to get married.
My only criticism is that one of the central storylines of the book is that the hero believes his sister was ruined and had a child out of wedlock, so it makes it frustrating that when the hero and heroine begin a sexual relationship the hero never once thinks about the possibility of the heroine becoming pregnant. The couple make no attempt to take precautions, I could blame that on the heroine's lack of experience, but the hero should know better. This would have been fine if the hero was shown as being willing to accept the consequences, but even after they begin having sex he is still thinking that he is not ready to get married.
July 17, 2020
3.5 stjärnor.
Inte jättetrovärdig men jag tyckte om den ändå. Hela skandal-undvikandet var lite tafatt.
Inte jättetrovärdig men jag tyckte om den ändå. Hela skandal-undvikandet var lite tafatt.
May 3, 2019
3.5
No começo a Thea me irritou muito com toda essa história de "ele não se lembra do beijinho casto que me deu há vinte mil anos atrás, FDP". Tipo, é claro que ele não vai lembrar, querida. O cara é um safado que já beijou um zilhão de outras depois de você. Ele é um "Rake". EU sei, você sabe, todo mundo sabe! Move on!!
Ta. Mas aí depois eu me acostumei com ela... E fiquei grilada com o Gabriel...
Mas enfim. O livro é legal, o vilão meio óbvio, (apesar deu ter gostado dele) e o bebê é simplesmente adorável!!
No começo a Thea me irritou muito com toda essa história de "ele não se lembra do beijinho casto que me deu há vinte mil anos atrás, FDP". Tipo, é claro que ele não vai lembrar, querida. O cara é um safado que já beijou um zilhão de outras depois de você. Ele é um "Rake". EU sei, você sabe, todo mundo sabe! Move on!!
Ta. Mas aí depois eu me acostumei com ela... E fiquei grilada com o Gabriel...
Mas enfim. O livro é legal, o vilão meio óbvio, (apesar deu ter gostado dele) e o bebê é simplesmente adorável!!
December 21, 2020
This was a reread and I enjoyed it just as much. A strong plot with great mcs, its a winner. Unfortunately, it drags a bit esp. towards the end, could have slashed off atleast 40 pages.
Recommended: 👍
Recommended: 👍
November 9, 2022
3.5 stars!
RTC
RTC
December 31, 2023
The hero is so dumb. Like, really, incredibly dumb. And the heroine spares not one second to worry about pregnancy - in a book where the main plot point is an illegitimate baby. This started out strong, but by the halfway point I was just skimming to see if I'd guessed the villain correctly.
May 21, 2013
Title: A Winter Scandal*
Author: Candace Camp
Series: Legend of St. Dwynwen Series #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: paperback, e-book
Date/Year: October 25, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads
*This book was provided to reviewer by the publisher in exchange for an honest review,
Summary from the publisher:
When plain and proper Thea Bainbridge stumbles upon a baby in the manger of her church’s nativity, she is understandably shocked. Discovering a brooch bearing the insignia of Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, hidden among the child’s clothing, she is certain the dissolute rake is to blame. Incensed, Thea sets out to reproach the arrogant lord—only to find herself utterly swept away.
Gabriel is intrigued by the vivacity in Thea’s flashing gray eyes when she accuses him of fathering the orphan, even as he adamantly maintains his innocence. The brooch is one he remembers all too well, however, and Gabriel is determined to find the mother of the missing child. As the mystery around the baby deepens, Gabriel is continually thrown together with Thea—and finds himself growing more entranced every day.
Even with whispers of winter scandal swirling around them, they cannot deny the longing in their hearts. A longing which promises the best gift of all: a shelter from the storm . . . in each other’s arms.
My Musings:
Thea is the spinster sister of the local vicar. She is content with her life and knows that she will never have a family of her own. She is very conscious that her behavior must be above reproach because it will reflect on her brother. Her one secret is the kiss she received at a party when she was quite young.
Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, has recently purchased a manor house in the neighborhood and has invited some of his male friends to visit. The local people are scandalized by the “goings on” at the house and will not allow any of their daughters to work there. The gentlemen are however invited to the squires party because, after all, they are nobility and he has several daughters to marry off.
Needless to say, Thea is very disapproving and Gabriel hardly notices her. It is certainly not a case of love at first sight.
A few days later, Thea discovers an infant in the church and the only identifying item is a brooch with the Morecombe seal engraved on it. She storms to the manor house with the baby and confronts Gabriel with his misdeeds.
Gabriel certainly notices her now.
I am partial to any romance set in Regency England because it is one of my favorite genres. I have read dozens if not hundreds of Regency Romances and I am always looking for another author to add to my autobuy list. Candace Camp has definitely been added to that list.
Thea is the more well-developed character which is common in romances as most of them are written from the female’s point of few. We do get to see that Gabriel’s life is not just one party after another. He has had tragedies in his life that Thea has been spared.
My only “problem” with the book is that Thea seemed quick to risk her reputation for Gabriel and the baby after years of behavior beyond reproach. Of course, there wouldn’t have been much of a book otherwise.
I thought I had the bad guy figured out well before the end of the book. The author threw in a twist, however, that totally surprised me. It fit well within the story and I feel that I should have seen it coming.
The author did a wonderful job of showing how Thea’s and Gabriel’s feelings for each other develop. After all, sometimes it takes more than the first sight for love.
Ratings:
Overall: 4 stars
Sensuality level: 3
Author: Candace Camp
Series: Legend of St. Dwynwen Series #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Format: paperback, e-book
Date/Year: October 25, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads
*This book was provided to reviewer by the publisher in exchange for an honest review,
Summary from the publisher:
When plain and proper Thea Bainbridge stumbles upon a baby in the manger of her church’s nativity, she is understandably shocked. Discovering a brooch bearing the insignia of Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, hidden among the child’s clothing, she is certain the dissolute rake is to blame. Incensed, Thea sets out to reproach the arrogant lord—only to find herself utterly swept away.
Gabriel is intrigued by the vivacity in Thea’s flashing gray eyes when she accuses him of fathering the orphan, even as he adamantly maintains his innocence. The brooch is one he remembers all too well, however, and Gabriel is determined to find the mother of the missing child. As the mystery around the baby deepens, Gabriel is continually thrown together with Thea—and finds himself growing more entranced every day.
Even with whispers of winter scandal swirling around them, they cannot deny the longing in their hearts. A longing which promises the best gift of all: a shelter from the storm . . . in each other’s arms.
My Musings:
Thea is the spinster sister of the local vicar. She is content with her life and knows that she will never have a family of her own. She is very conscious that her behavior must be above reproach because it will reflect on her brother. Her one secret is the kiss she received at a party when she was quite young.
Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, has recently purchased a manor house in the neighborhood and has invited some of his male friends to visit. The local people are scandalized by the “goings on” at the house and will not allow any of their daughters to work there. The gentlemen are however invited to the squires party because, after all, they are nobility and he has several daughters to marry off.
Needless to say, Thea is very disapproving and Gabriel hardly notices her. It is certainly not a case of love at first sight.
A few days later, Thea discovers an infant in the church and the only identifying item is a brooch with the Morecombe seal engraved on it. She storms to the manor house with the baby and confronts Gabriel with his misdeeds.
Gabriel certainly notices her now.
I am partial to any romance set in Regency England because it is one of my favorite genres. I have read dozens if not hundreds of Regency Romances and I am always looking for another author to add to my autobuy list. Candace Camp has definitely been added to that list.
Thea is the more well-developed character which is common in romances as most of them are written from the female’s point of few. We do get to see that Gabriel’s life is not just one party after another. He has had tragedies in his life that Thea has been spared.
My only “problem” with the book is that Thea seemed quick to risk her reputation for Gabriel and the baby after years of behavior beyond reproach. Of course, there wouldn’t have been much of a book otherwise.
I thought I had the bad guy figured out well before the end of the book. The author threw in a twist, however, that totally surprised me. It fit well within the story and I feel that I should have seen it coming.
The author did a wonderful job of showing how Thea’s and Gabriel’s feelings for each other develop. After all, sometimes it takes more than the first sight for love.
Ratings:
Overall: 4 stars
Sensuality level: 3
November 3, 2011
***original review posted at Romancing Rakes***
Another holiday themed book and it's starting to get in the holiday spirit. I might even dig out the tree a month early.
Thea Bainbridge is an upstanding citizen, a pillar of the community and a giver. She helps her brother prepare his sermons and helps everyone with any problem they have. She puts everyone ahead of herself. Resigned to being on the shelf, she's determined to help her brother with all things pertaining to the church until he decides to take on a wife. Well, life is good and the holiday season has just begun. As she's preparing to set up the nativity scene, she discovers an adorable baby boy abandoned in the manger (how ironic) whom she christens "Matthew".
Discovering a pin with the seal of Lord Gabriel Morecombe, she rushes to his home all in a tizzy to rip him a new one. Looking like a woman well tumbled and half crazed, yelling at him in front of his friends, she realizes that may not have been the best way to go about trying to get Morecombe to take responsibility for the child.
Morecombe is surprised and somewhat taken by this mad woman who banged down his door with a baby in her arms. He is in full denial until he studies the child, who has the same features as his sister Jocelyn. And thus the search for his sister begins. Morecombe's sister was betrothed to one of his best friends but she ends up running away, breaking the engagement. No one knows why and since then, there's been a rift between Morecombe and Rawdon.
As the search for Morecombe's sister commences, he and Thea spend a lot of time together. They both agree that Matthew would be better off with Thea until Morecombe makes his home more kid friendly or if his sister comes back to claim her child. Thea points out, much to Morecombe's frustration, that his sister was afraid to tell him about the baby because of scandal.
Between trying to care for Matthew, finding Morecombe's sister, resisting their feelings for each other and discovering Matthew's kidnapper, Thea and Gabriel find that miracles do happen during the holidays.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "And exactly how could I have carried this baby for nine months, then delivered it six months ago, all without anyone in the village knowing about it? Or even suspecting anything? How could I possibly have kept such a thing secret for the past year? When would I have carried on some mad affair with a London nobleman? I mean, really, I ask you, when would I have delivered a baby in secret?"
OVERALL: My first Candace Camp book and I think I shall read more. I may be a bit partial to this book since I'm a total sucker to holiday themed books and this one is no different. Thea's 10 year crush on Gabriel and him realizing years too late is heart tugging. Isn't that like any typical man? Only seeing the pretty girls and bypassing the quiet ones. This is a story of love, loss, forgiveness and miracles, wrapped in a neat little bow of holiday magic and sultry kisses.
***book provided by Ayelet Gruenspecht from Pocket Books for review***
Another holiday themed book and it's starting to get in the holiday spirit. I might even dig out the tree a month early.
Thea Bainbridge is an upstanding citizen, a pillar of the community and a giver. She helps her brother prepare his sermons and helps everyone with any problem they have. She puts everyone ahead of herself. Resigned to being on the shelf, she's determined to help her brother with all things pertaining to the church until he decides to take on a wife. Well, life is good and the holiday season has just begun. As she's preparing to set up the nativity scene, she discovers an adorable baby boy abandoned in the manger (how ironic) whom she christens "Matthew".
Discovering a pin with the seal of Lord Gabriel Morecombe, she rushes to his home all in a tizzy to rip him a new one. Looking like a woman well tumbled and half crazed, yelling at him in front of his friends, she realizes that may not have been the best way to go about trying to get Morecombe to take responsibility for the child.
Morecombe is surprised and somewhat taken by this mad woman who banged down his door with a baby in her arms. He is in full denial until he studies the child, who has the same features as his sister Jocelyn. And thus the search for his sister begins. Morecombe's sister was betrothed to one of his best friends but she ends up running away, breaking the engagement. No one knows why and since then, there's been a rift between Morecombe and Rawdon.
As the search for Morecombe's sister commences, he and Thea spend a lot of time together. They both agree that Matthew would be better off with Thea until Morecombe makes his home more kid friendly or if his sister comes back to claim her child. Thea points out, much to Morecombe's frustration, that his sister was afraid to tell him about the baby because of scandal.
Between trying to care for Matthew, finding Morecombe's sister, resisting their feelings for each other and discovering Matthew's kidnapper, Thea and Gabriel find that miracles do happen during the holidays.
FAVORITE QUOTE: "And exactly how could I have carried this baby for nine months, then delivered it six months ago, all without anyone in the village knowing about it? Or even suspecting anything? How could I possibly have kept such a thing secret for the past year? When would I have carried on some mad affair with a London nobleman? I mean, really, I ask you, when would I have delivered a baby in secret?"
OVERALL: My first Candace Camp book and I think I shall read more. I may be a bit partial to this book since I'm a total sucker to holiday themed books and this one is no different. Thea's 10 year crush on Gabriel and him realizing years too late is heart tugging. Isn't that like any typical man? Only seeing the pretty girls and bypassing the quiet ones. This is a story of love, loss, forgiveness and miracles, wrapped in a neat little bow of holiday magic and sultry kisses.
***book provided by Ayelet Gruenspecht from Pocket Books for review***
June 17, 2015
I loved, loved, loved this book. Every aspect about it from the characters, to the plot, to the steamy sex scenes i loved.
I loved that the mystery wasn't so uninteresting that it bogged down the romance or TOO interesting that it drew ones attention away from the romance. If anything the mystery actually advanced the romance; like romance plots should do. And i loved that i was biting my nails trying to figure out who the culprit was. Not to mention i was so thoroughly please AND surprised by the reveal and the twist at the end.
I loved that Thea wasn't your typical, beautiful beyond words, heroine and that she was strong and witty enough to give back just as much as was thrown at her. She wasn't so prim and proper as to come off as a prude which is sometimes a problem i see in "spinster" characters. They come off so uptight and "proper" that their character just ends up being a pompous jerk.
It's also obvious that she cares for Gabriel but she's much too realistic to hope for a true happily ever after, which with her station and the fact that she's a "bluestocking" AND plain in looks, is completely understandable. Half the time with really beautiful heroines in romance novels, is that they whine that they can't possibly capture a guy when in fact they have the advantage of being beautiful. Something a lot of men would throw everything away for. So the fact that she was not only a vicar's daughter, a spinster, AND plain was like triple the reason for her internal strife.
And Gabriel, my sweet, funny, charming Gabriel. I LOVED that he wasn't your typical brooding, grumpy, mood swing hero. After awhile i just get so tired of the same alpha male characters all the damn time. And Gabriel is a perfect example of how to do a charming, lovable hero. He was beautiful inside and out . I especially loved that when Thea says she's not beautiful, he argues that it's not her looks that make her beautiful but her wit and her love and for simply being her. He loved her for being her and just- ugh- how much more romantic can you get?!
The interaction between Thea and Gabe were the best as well; i loved how they teased each other and that their banter was witty and enjoyable. They were both very supportive to each other when the need arose. Their relationship happened naturally without it being too fast paced or too slow and their mutual affection for each other was so refreshing. Most of the time a lot of books depend on the characters disliking each other for some dumb reason or constantly arguing or having an endless bout of depressing, external/internal struggles. But not in this book and it was so much better because of it. This book was simply two people falling in love. A true, heartfelt romance story at its best. It's sweet and simple and enjoyable.
I'd suggest it to anyone even if your not really a fan of the usual Historical Romance genre.
I loved that the mystery wasn't so uninteresting that it bogged down the romance or TOO interesting that it drew ones attention away from the romance. If anything the mystery actually advanced the romance; like romance plots should do. And i loved that i was biting my nails trying to figure out who the culprit was. Not to mention i was so thoroughly please AND surprised by the reveal and the twist at the end.
I loved that Thea wasn't your typical, beautiful beyond words, heroine and that she was strong and witty enough to give back just as much as was thrown at her. She wasn't so prim and proper as to come off as a prude which is sometimes a problem i see in "spinster" characters. They come off so uptight and "proper" that their character just ends up being a pompous jerk.
It's also obvious that she cares for Gabriel but she's much too realistic to hope for a true happily ever after, which with her station and the fact that she's a "bluestocking" AND plain in looks, is completely understandable. Half the time with really beautiful heroines in romance novels, is that they whine that they can't possibly capture a guy when in fact they have the advantage of being beautiful. Something a lot of men would throw everything away for. So the fact that she was not only a vicar's daughter, a spinster, AND plain was like triple the reason for her internal strife.
And Gabriel, my sweet, funny, charming Gabriel. I LOVED that he wasn't your typical brooding, grumpy, mood swing hero. After awhile i just get so tired of the same alpha male characters all the damn time. And Gabriel is a perfect example of how to do a charming, lovable hero. He was beautiful inside and out . I especially loved that when Thea says she's not beautiful, he argues that it's not her looks that make her beautiful but her wit and her love and for simply being her. He loved her for being her and just- ugh- how much more romantic can you get?!
The interaction between Thea and Gabe were the best as well; i loved how they teased each other and that their banter was witty and enjoyable. They were both very supportive to each other when the need arose. Their relationship happened naturally without it being too fast paced or too slow and their mutual affection for each other was so refreshing. Most of the time a lot of books depend on the characters disliking each other for some dumb reason or constantly arguing or having an endless bout of depressing, external/internal struggles. But not in this book and it was so much better because of it. This book was simply two people falling in love. A true, heartfelt romance story at its best. It's sweet and simple and enjoyable.
I'd suggest it to anyone even if your not really a fan of the usual Historical Romance genre.
December 23, 2016
A Winter Scandal is a slow starter. It took me a couple of attempts to get into it. There was a lot of information and characters thrown in right from the beginning and it struggled to grab my interest. The whole book is a little too wordy for my tastes - I'm not quite sure why I'm complaining because I generally do prefer more wordy books and this is now the second book in a row where I've found it too wordy! - I feel like there could have been some parts that could have been trimmed down.
I never fully get invested in the relationship between Thea and Lord Morecombe, Gabriel, but they have some very sweet moments and there are numerous scenes where they actually have conversations which I really enjoy. Some of the earlier kissy scenes do come out of nowhere and feel a little pasted in, and I never fully see or feel the chemistry but it could be a lot worse.
Normally I'm not a massive fan of books that involve kids but this was quite sweet. Thea finds a baby in the manger in the church when setting up for the live nativity, believes it belongs to Lord Morecombe so he gets dragged into everything which sets up the whole finding the mother part of the story. There were some very cute moments with Thea, Gabriel and little baby Matthew. The story was a little bit up and down and a bit too long winded but it was mostly enjoyable.
I think I have given this a lower rating than I would have normally, I've struggled recently to get into the books I've been reading, a few 1 and 2 stars in a row, which might have effected my enjoyment but by the end of this book I was really wanting to read the next one. I might look at my rating again at a later date.
I never fully get invested in the relationship between Thea and Lord Morecombe, Gabriel, but they have some very sweet moments and there are numerous scenes where they actually have conversations which I really enjoy. Some of the earlier kissy scenes do come out of nowhere and feel a little pasted in, and I never fully see or feel the chemistry but it could be a lot worse.
Normally I'm not a massive fan of books that involve kids but this was quite sweet. Thea finds a baby in the manger in the church when setting up for the live nativity, believes it belongs to Lord Morecombe so he gets dragged into everything which sets up the whole finding the mother part of the story. There were some very cute moments with Thea, Gabriel and little baby Matthew. The story was a little bit up and down and a bit too long winded but it was mostly enjoyable.
I think I have given this a lower rating than I would have normally, I've struggled recently to get into the books I've been reading, a few 1 and 2 stars in a row, which might have effected my enjoyment but by the end of this book I was really wanting to read the next one. I might look at my rating again at a later date.
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