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Rumors
What does it matter if society spurns me?
Following a disastrous incident at a house party, Lady Isobel Jervis is exiled to the country to avoid further scandal. At the imposing Wimpole Hall, she meets architect Giles Harker. He is as eye-catching as the elegant house, but shockingly arrogant-and infuriatingly dismissive.
Despite himself, Giles is strangely drawn to the haughty Isobel, and stuns her with a secret kiss in the gardens. As the illegitimate son of an infamous scarlet woman, he knows love can be dangerous. Their growing attraction could come at the cost of both their reputations.
Following a disastrous incident at a house party, Lady Isobel Jervis is exiled to the country to avoid further scandal. At the imposing Wimpole Hall, she meets architect Giles Harker. He is as eye-catching as the elegant house, but shockingly arrogant-and infuriatingly dismissive.
Despite himself, Giles is strangely drawn to the haughty Isobel, and stuns her with a secret kiss in the gardens. As the illegitimate son of an infamous scarlet woman, he knows love can be dangerous. Their growing attraction could come at the cost of both their reputations.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
16 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Louise Allen
424 books331 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 19 reviews
November 18, 2013
3.5 stars
Set in 1801, Lady Isobel Jervis is caught in a scandal not of her making, and flees to the countryside to give things time to cool off. She stays with friends/relations (I forget which, memory is fading) at Wimpole Hall (a place that really exists!!), and she's soon at cross purposes with Giles Harker, one of the architects working on renovations at the hall. This being a romance and all, you know sparks are flying, but Giles is the illegitimate son of a very notorious widow, so he's definitely not husband material for the daughter of an earl.
Or is he?
I did enjoy this, although things got a bit too pat in the end trying to make the HEA feasible. There are a few twists and turns, and even Lady Isobel has some interesting secrets I didn't guess at. Bonus points for that, plus extra bonus points for having the characters act in a manner appropriate to the time period and their place in society. Nice change from most of thecrap romances being published these days.
Kindle copy obtained via library loan.
Set in 1801, Lady Isobel Jervis is caught in a scandal not of her making, and flees to the countryside to give things time to cool off. She stays with friends/relations (I forget which, memory is fading) at Wimpole Hall (a place that really exists!!), and she's soon at cross purposes with Giles Harker, one of the architects working on renovations at the hall. This being a romance and all, you know sparks are flying, but Giles is the illegitimate son of a very notorious widow, so he's definitely not husband material for the daughter of an earl.
Or is he?
I did enjoy this, although things got a bit too pat in the end trying to make the HEA feasible. There are a few twists and turns, and even Lady Isobel has some interesting secrets I didn't guess at. Bonus points for that, plus extra bonus points for having the characters act in a manner appropriate to the time period and their place in society. Nice change from most of the
Kindle copy obtained via library loan.
July 23, 2016
3.5 stars
One of the things that interested me about this book was the fact that the majority of the action takes place somewhere with which I’m familiar – Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire, which I’ve visited a few times. I always enjoy reading a story set somewhere I’ve been, so that was an instant recommendation. I’ve also read and enjoyed a number of Louise Allen’s other books and know that her work is well-written and well-researched. But despite both those things being in evidence in Rumors, there was something about it which didn’t quite work for me.
Wimpole Hall (my photo)
Lady Isobel Jervis is twenty-four and unmarried. She had been engaged several years earlier but had lost her fiancé tragically in a carriage accident. Since returning to society, Isobel has gone through the motions each Season, but has found no man of interest to her – although unfortunately, her disinterest has been seen by many as disdain and aloofness. When three drunken young men decide to warm up the frosty spinster by bursting into her room late at night and attempting to assault her, she is, of course, blamed for the whole thing and is immediately bundled away in the country to stay with her eminently respectable relatives, the Hardwickes, in order to wait for the scandal to die down.
On arrival, she meets not only the family, but Mr. John Soane and Mr. Giles Harker, two architects who are currently engaged on making repairs and improvements to the property.
Mr. Harker is an incredibly handsome young man, all too used to attracting the attention of every young woman he meets and he immediately jumps to the conclusion that Isobel is another of those ladies to become infatuated with him because of his looks. He behaves rather rudely towards her, and when she divines his reasons, Isobel is angry at his presumption.
The ice between them begins to thaw however, and they begin to get to know each other better and to embark on a friendship. Giles discovers why Isobel has been sent away in disgrace, and after his initial reaction (which is to believe the rumormongers) realizes that she has been badly wronged and decides that it’s up to him to restore her good name.
The story is quite eventful for a fairly small number of pages, which might be one of the reasons I found the book to be less than satisfying. The animosity between Isobel and Giles at the beginning is fairly short-lived, and I enjoyed seeing them take their first tentative steps towards friendship. But I didn’t feel that sufficient time was devoted to developing their relationship after that; by shortly over half-way through, Isobel was declaring her love for Giles and the two were embarking upon a sexual relationship, despite Giles’ insistence that he didn’t feel the same way about her.
Of course that is not the case; but by lying to Isobel about the nature of his feelings, Giles is seeking to protect her from further scandal and heartbreak. For one thing, he is the bastard son of a scandalous marchioness known in society as the “Scarlet Widow” and as such is not regarded as a true gentleman, despite his education and manners. Isobel is the daughter of an earl and too far above Giles in station for a marriage between them to be in any way acceptable to her family or society.
In order to pursue his chosen career, Giles needs to be able to navigate his way through the ton, as the rich and titled are the most likely people to be able to purchase his services as an architect. But because of his birth and the scandalous behavior frequently exhibited by his mother, he has to be incredibly circumspect – should the slightest whiff of scandal attach to him, his career and prospects would be ruined. And making an unequal match with an earl’s daughter would certainly cause scandal, especially as their marriage would likely have to take place without parental approval.
Giles doesn’t want to condemn Isobel to a life apart from her family and dogged by scandal, so he decides that the best thing to do is to lie to her and tell her he doesn’t love her.
Men really are stupid sometimes, aren’t they?
I think my major issue with the book is that while Ms. Allen has certainly imbued it with a real sense of place, I didn’t get any sense of chronological setting and in fact, had to check the first page several times to remind myself that the book is set in 1801 and not in the 1920s. Isobel was definitely not a shy, retiring virgin; she was a young woman with secrets who had borne a lot sorrow in her life and had, probably because of it, decided to live her life and to go after what she wanted. That makes perfect sense, but such sensibilities felt a little too modern to me.
I found Giles a difficult character to like for much of the book, too. It’s easy to understand his rudeness at the beginning, but the fact that he is so quickly prepared to believe the worst of Isobel, even after they have become friends, does not speak well of him. I also realized that I wasn’t clear exactly why Isobel fell for him. He (literally) saved her life and then went to great lengths to prove her innocent of scandal, being badly injured himself in the process. So certainly, I can understand her feeling immense gratitude towards Giles. But as to why she loved him? I think this goes back to what I said earlier about the fact that not enough time was devoted to developing the romance between the protagonists. There were so many other elements shoe-horned into the story – Isobel’s BIG secret, Giles’ mother’s interference, Isobel’s reconciliation with her family, Giles’ trip to Hereford and more – that the romance was neglected.
All in all, I found the book to be well-written and thought that Isobel was a slightly unusual and likeable heroine. Even though I had reservations about the modernity of her outlook and attitudes, I nonetheless found her to be the most well rounded of all the characters in the story. There were also some lovely moments of understanding between her and Giles, but ultimately, I’m afraid I came away from Rumors feeling disappointed and dissatisfied.
One of the things that interested me about this book was the fact that the majority of the action takes place somewhere with which I’m familiar – Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire, which I’ve visited a few times. I always enjoy reading a story set somewhere I’ve been, so that was an instant recommendation. I’ve also read and enjoyed a number of Louise Allen’s other books and know that her work is well-written and well-researched. But despite both those things being in evidence in Rumors, there was something about it which didn’t quite work for me.
Wimpole Hall (my photo)
Lady Isobel Jervis is twenty-four and unmarried. She had been engaged several years earlier but had lost her fiancé tragically in a carriage accident. Since returning to society, Isobel has gone through the motions each Season, but has found no man of interest to her – although unfortunately, her disinterest has been seen by many as disdain and aloofness. When three drunken young men decide to warm up the frosty spinster by bursting into her room late at night and attempting to assault her, she is, of course, blamed for the whole thing and is immediately bundled away in the country to stay with her eminently respectable relatives, the Hardwickes, in order to wait for the scandal to die down.
On arrival, she meets not only the family, but Mr. John Soane and Mr. Giles Harker, two architects who are currently engaged on making repairs and improvements to the property.
Mr. Harker is an incredibly handsome young man, all too used to attracting the attention of every young woman he meets and he immediately jumps to the conclusion that Isobel is another of those ladies to become infatuated with him because of his looks. He behaves rather rudely towards her, and when she divines his reasons, Isobel is angry at his presumption.
The ice between them begins to thaw however, and they begin to get to know each other better and to embark on a friendship. Giles discovers why Isobel has been sent away in disgrace, and after his initial reaction (which is to believe the rumormongers) realizes that she has been badly wronged and decides that it’s up to him to restore her good name.
The story is quite eventful for a fairly small number of pages, which might be one of the reasons I found the book to be less than satisfying. The animosity between Isobel and Giles at the beginning is fairly short-lived, and I enjoyed seeing them take their first tentative steps towards friendship. But I didn’t feel that sufficient time was devoted to developing their relationship after that; by shortly over half-way through, Isobel was declaring her love for Giles and the two were embarking upon a sexual relationship, despite Giles’ insistence that he didn’t feel the same way about her.
Of course that is not the case; but by lying to Isobel about the nature of his feelings, Giles is seeking to protect her from further scandal and heartbreak. For one thing, he is the bastard son of a scandalous marchioness known in society as the “Scarlet Widow” and as such is not regarded as a true gentleman, despite his education and manners. Isobel is the daughter of an earl and too far above Giles in station for a marriage between them to be in any way acceptable to her family or society.
In order to pursue his chosen career, Giles needs to be able to navigate his way through the ton, as the rich and titled are the most likely people to be able to purchase his services as an architect. But because of his birth and the scandalous behavior frequently exhibited by his mother, he has to be incredibly circumspect – should the slightest whiff of scandal attach to him, his career and prospects would be ruined. And making an unequal match with an earl’s daughter would certainly cause scandal, especially as their marriage would likely have to take place without parental approval.
Giles doesn’t want to condemn Isobel to a life apart from her family and dogged by scandal, so he decides that the best thing to do is to lie to her and tell her he doesn’t love her.
Men really are stupid sometimes, aren’t they?
I think my major issue with the book is that while Ms. Allen has certainly imbued it with a real sense of place, I didn’t get any sense of chronological setting and in fact, had to check the first page several times to remind myself that the book is set in 1801 and not in the 1920s. Isobel was definitely not a shy, retiring virgin; she was a young woman with secrets who had borne a lot sorrow in her life and had, probably because of it, decided to live her life and to go after what she wanted. That makes perfect sense, but such sensibilities felt a little too modern to me.
I found Giles a difficult character to like for much of the book, too. It’s easy to understand his rudeness at the beginning, but the fact that he is so quickly prepared to believe the worst of Isobel, even after they have become friends, does not speak well of him. I also realized that I wasn’t clear exactly why Isobel fell for him. He (literally) saved her life and then went to great lengths to prove her innocent of scandal, being badly injured himself in the process. So certainly, I can understand her feeling immense gratitude towards Giles. But as to why she loved him? I think this goes back to what I said earlier about the fact that not enough time was devoted to developing the romance between the protagonists. There were so many other elements shoe-horned into the story – Isobel’s BIG secret, Giles’ mother’s interference, Isobel’s reconciliation with her family, Giles’ trip to Hereford and more – that the romance was neglected.
All in all, I found the book to be well-written and thought that Isobel was a slightly unusual and likeable heroine. Even though I had reservations about the modernity of her outlook and attitudes, I nonetheless found her to be the most well rounded of all the characters in the story. There were also some lovely moments of understanding between her and Giles, but ultimately, I’m afraid I came away from Rumors feeling disappointed and dissatisfied.
February 27, 2019
I really enjoyed this one, especially as it's set in a real place! If anyone knows of any more novels like this (either featuring real places and/or people), please let me know.
July 4, 2013
Two people surrounded by scandal make for a ton of fun in this book. Rumors was a wonderful historical romance. I really enjoyed this book.
Isobel was a lovely heroine. She's definitely a survivor. No matter what happens, she picks herself up and continues to love. And she had some surprising secrets in her past. Honestly, there isn't much more to say about her. She was a very likable, wonderful character.
Giles was also great, though sometimes frustrating. He doesn't give the best first impression, but it wasn't long before we see how sweet of a man he is. He's had to become very adept at defending his reputation because of his mother and his precarious position of respectability. One whiff of scandal and he would loose his business. But, he was a genuinely good man. Sweet, clever, and determined to protect the woman he loves.
The romance was well done. Because a relationship between Isobel and Giles wasn't possible (in their eyes at least), there was a lot of longing between them, which was well portrayed. And the chemistry was HOT. Like, fan yourself hot. The one part of this book that I had an issue with was the self-created obstacles in their relationship. They constantly denied being together because of their fears that it would cause a scandal. Now, they had good reason, and it was somewhat understandable. But, after that argument came up over and over, I was a little annoyed. Isobel got over it soon enough, but Giles just refused to risk scandal for himself and Isobel and he maintained that until about the last chapter. Again, I understood it, but it still frustrated me after a while. Overall, though, I liked the romance and I thought Isobel and Giles were a lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced. There were secrets in store that took be by surprise. I was hooked the entire way through. And the ending was lovely.
Rumors was a wonderful historical romance, full of unconventional characters, secrets, and a steamy romance. Lovers of the genre, you really need to give this book a read.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for a copy!
Isobel was a lovely heroine. She's definitely a survivor. No matter what happens, she picks herself up and continues to love. And she had some surprising secrets in her past. Honestly, there isn't much more to say about her. She was a very likable, wonderful character.
Giles was also great, though sometimes frustrating. He doesn't give the best first impression, but it wasn't long before we see how sweet of a man he is. He's had to become very adept at defending his reputation because of his mother and his precarious position of respectability. One whiff of scandal and he would loose his business. But, he was a genuinely good man. Sweet, clever, and determined to protect the woman he loves.
The romance was well done. Because a relationship between Isobel and Giles wasn't possible (in their eyes at least), there was a lot of longing between them, which was well portrayed. And the chemistry was HOT. Like, fan yourself hot. The one part of this book that I had an issue with was the self-created obstacles in their relationship. They constantly denied being together because of their fears that it would cause a scandal. Now, they had good reason, and it was somewhat understandable. But, after that argument came up over and over, I was a little annoyed. Isobel got over it soon enough, but Giles just refused to risk scandal for himself and Isobel and he maintained that until about the last chapter. Again, I understood it, but it still frustrated me after a while. Overall, though, I liked the romance and I thought Isobel and Giles were a lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced. There were secrets in store that took be by surprise. I was hooked the entire way through. And the ending was lovely.
Rumors was a wonderful historical romance, full of unconventional characters, secrets, and a steamy romance. Lovers of the genre, you really need to give this book a read.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for a copy!
June 11, 2015
This is my sixth read by Louise Allen so one can't say that her style is totally new to me, but somehow she managed to surprise me. The woman has written a gazillion (no, not really, but the true number must be quite close to a gazillion) books and therefore one might think that her style developed quite some time ago. I haven't read any of her older books, the oldest I've read was published in 2010, but I dare say that I have seen some development in her skills as a writer. Or is it simply that this particular translation was very good?
Anyways, about this particular book.
Our heroine Lady Isobel is somewhat different from other heroines I've read by Ms. Allen and this time round it is not a bad thing because I honestly liked her. Sure, there were a few quirks I found somewhat weird but all in all, I thought that her character wasn't contradicted by her actions and that is quite important for me. I liked how independent she was, although this book is set in the year 1801. I liked how she dared to grab the pull by the horns. No, there were no real pulls or cows, but what I mean, is that she had the courage to do what needed to get what or who she wanted.
The rest of my thoughts can be found here
Anyways, about this particular book.
Our heroine Lady Isobel is somewhat different from other heroines I've read by Ms. Allen and this time round it is not a bad thing because I honestly liked her. Sure, there were a few quirks I found somewhat weird but all in all, I thought that her character wasn't contradicted by her actions and that is quite important for me. I liked how independent she was, although this book is set in the year 1801. I liked how she dared to grab the pull by the horns. No, there were no real pulls or cows, but what I mean, is that she had the courage to do what needed to get what or who she wanted.
The rest of my thoughts can be found here
Read
December 29, 2014"Allen sets her new novel in the real world of Wimpole Hall, a magnificent National Trust property in England. Opposites attract in this well-written, scandal-filled romance that will intrigue readers from the first to the last page." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars
The past, social-standings and misunderstandings almost keep Isobel and Giles apart. I enjoyed discovering how Ms. Allen worked everything out. Delightful read. ~ Kim S.
The past, social-standings and misunderstandings almost keep Isobel and Giles apart. I enjoyed discovering how Ms. Allen worked everything out. Delightful read. ~ Kim S.
September 7, 2018
This is almost a traditional historical romance, except that the characters do have sex (but not intercourse) before marriage. The story arc is all about the courtship: the misunderstandings, the critical events that lead the hero and heroine to see each other differently, the growth of caring beyond the superficial attraction. The interest in the book comes from the comedy of manners, not outlandish events.
I really like this author and think the quality of her work is higher than the typical Harlequin product. In one way, the book fits the Harlequin mode and that is in the length. The book is a quick and rewarding read.
Here is some dialogue from the early, “storming” phase of the relationship, when the hero has the mistaken (?) impression that the heroine is a bold hussy who wants to jump his bones. The hero is an architect, and he and the heroine are seated together at dinner.
“So, have you built your own house, Mr. Harker?”
“I have. Were you thinking of viewing it, Lady Isobel?”
“Now you are being deliberately provocative, Mr. Harker.” Her dark brows drew together and the tight social smile vanished. “I am thinking no such thing, as you know perfectly well. This is called *polite conversation*, in case you are unfamiliar with the activity. You are supposed to inform me where the house is and tell me of some interesting or amusing feature, not make suggestive remarks.”
“Are you always this outspoken, Lady Isobel?” He found, unexpectedly, that his ill temper had vanished, although not all his guilt. He was enjoying her prickles—it was a novelty to be fenced with over dinner.
“I am practising” she said as she sat back to allow the servants to clear for the second remove. “My rather belated New Year resolution is to say what I mean. Scream it, if necessary,” she added in a murmur.
Isn’t the heroine going to make the most delicious old lady? I hope that snippet is enough to demonstrate the intelligence with which Louise Allen infused her characters.
I really like this author and think the quality of her work is higher than the typical Harlequin product. In one way, the book fits the Harlequin mode and that is in the length. The book is a quick and rewarding read.
Here is some dialogue from the early, “storming” phase of the relationship, when the hero has the mistaken (?) impression that the heroine is a bold hussy who wants to jump his bones. The hero is an architect, and he and the heroine are seated together at dinner.
“So, have you built your own house, Mr. Harker?”
“I have. Were you thinking of viewing it, Lady Isobel?”
“Now you are being deliberately provocative, Mr. Harker.” Her dark brows drew together and the tight social smile vanished. “I am thinking no such thing, as you know perfectly well. This is called *polite conversation*, in case you are unfamiliar with the activity. You are supposed to inform me where the house is and tell me of some interesting or amusing feature, not make suggestive remarks.”
“Are you always this outspoken, Lady Isobel?” He found, unexpectedly, that his ill temper had vanished, although not all his guilt. He was enjoying her prickles—it was a novelty to be fenced with over dinner.
“I am practising” she said as she sat back to allow the servants to clear for the second remove. “My rather belated New Year resolution is to say what I mean. Scream it, if necessary,” she added in a murmur.
Isn’t the heroine going to make the most delicious old lady? I hope that snippet is enough to demonstrate the intelligence with which Louise Allen infused her characters.
February 10, 2019
Fabulous story.... Loved it
I did not read this story when it first came out despite being a huge fan of Louise Allen's writing..... More fool me! I should have trusted Ms Allen. This is a gorgeous story of a love lost, denial, danger and reputation. I adore the way this writer writes beautiful, slightly damaged heroes and the determined, noble heroines that rehabilitate them. A wonderful Sunday afternoon spent reading what feels like a most unexpected treat.
I did not read this story when it first came out despite being a huge fan of Louise Allen's writing..... More fool me! I should have trusted Ms Allen. This is a gorgeous story of a love lost, denial, danger and reputation. I adore the way this writer writes beautiful, slightly damaged heroes and the determined, noble heroines that rehabilitate them. A wonderful Sunday afternoon spent reading what feels like a most unexpected treat.
February 20, 2020
Usually I can read one of these in a day. This one was so boring it took me forever.
August 11, 2022
Easy read
August 6, 2023
Mu üks üle aegade lemmikuid raamatuid! Niiiiii heaaaa!!! nii delicateli kirjutatud. lugesin selle raamatu sõna otseses mõttes ribadeks! NII SOOVITAN!
October 11, 2013
Louise Allen deftly intertwines dangerous temptation, forbidden desire and outrageous scandal in her enthralling new historical romance, Rumors: Scandal Comes to Wimpole Hall!
Having had her reputation tarnished by a group of scoundrels who had been intent on teaching her a lesson, Lady Isobel Jervis found herself banished to the Cambridgeshire countryside to rusticate with her Cousin Elizabeth and her family in the opulent splendour of Wimpole Hall. With their daughter’s standing in society ruined and any chance of making a suitable match dashed, Isobel’s parents are hoping that an extended sojourn in the countryside will restore her good name in polite society. With no other option available to her, Isobel must reluctantly comply with her parents’ wishes. However, she soon learns that life is far from quiet in the countryside! On her arrival at Wimpole Hall, Isobel is immediately bowled over by her sumptuous surroundings, the warm welcome she receives from a distant cousin she’s never even met – and by the dashingly handsome architect Giles Harker…
Giles Harker’s entire life has been marked by scandal. Born on the wrong side of the blanket to a woman whose lascivious romantic exploits and brazen sensuality had earned her the sobriquet of Scarlet Widow, Giles had been determined not to make the same mistakes which his mother seems unable to stop making. Despite of the shocking circumstances of his birth, Giles’ fierce intellect and awe-inspiring talent had made him into one of England’s most sought-after architects. Having accepted a commission to work in the majestic grandeur of Wimpole Hall, Giles is looking forward to creating his next masterpiece. The last thing he needs is to find himself embroiled in a scandal with an innocent like Isobel Jervis. Yet, the devastatingly attractive architect quickly begins to find himself unable to stop the fiery Miss Jervis from intruding into his thoughts…
After their first calamitous meeting, Isobel had initially written Giles off as a rude and boorish individual, but she had soon changed her mind when she began to see another side to the handsome Mr Harker. Although Isobel had hardened her heart and vowed never to marry, she is surprised by the depth of her feelings for Giles. But how can she possibly even contemplate a future for the two of them when there are so many obstacles standing in their way?
With devastating secrets and powerful enemies intent on jeopardising their burgeoning happiness, will Giles and Isobel have the courage and strength to vanquish the demons that plague them? Or will they allow fear and trepidation to condemn them to a lifetime of loneliness and regret?
A captivating tale of honour, sacrifice and redemption, Rumours: Scandal Comes to Wimpole Hall sweeps readers back to the magnificence and elegance of Regency England and to the astonishing and breathtaking beauty of a stately home in the 19th Century. The fabulous Louise Allen describes Wimpole Hall so vividly that the reader feels as if she is part of the story and not just reading about it.
Louise Allen’s characters are nuanced, well observed and so wonderfully developed that they are sure to capture the hearts of readers everywhere. Isobel is a fantastic heroine whose dignity, humour and strength of character rivals Lizzie Bennett’s and Giles is a wonderfully brooding hero who is simply irresistible!
Written with plenty of flair, vigour and sophistication, Rumors: Scandal Comes to Wimpole Hall is an outstanding historical romance from a writer who always exceeds expectations: Louise Allen!
This review was originally published on Cataromance.
Having had her reputation tarnished by a group of scoundrels who had been intent on teaching her a lesson, Lady Isobel Jervis found herself banished to the Cambridgeshire countryside to rusticate with her Cousin Elizabeth and her family in the opulent splendour of Wimpole Hall. With their daughter’s standing in society ruined and any chance of making a suitable match dashed, Isobel’s parents are hoping that an extended sojourn in the countryside will restore her good name in polite society. With no other option available to her, Isobel must reluctantly comply with her parents’ wishes. However, she soon learns that life is far from quiet in the countryside! On her arrival at Wimpole Hall, Isobel is immediately bowled over by her sumptuous surroundings, the warm welcome she receives from a distant cousin she’s never even met – and by the dashingly handsome architect Giles Harker…
Giles Harker’s entire life has been marked by scandal. Born on the wrong side of the blanket to a woman whose lascivious romantic exploits and brazen sensuality had earned her the sobriquet of Scarlet Widow, Giles had been determined not to make the same mistakes which his mother seems unable to stop making. Despite of the shocking circumstances of his birth, Giles’ fierce intellect and awe-inspiring talent had made him into one of England’s most sought-after architects. Having accepted a commission to work in the majestic grandeur of Wimpole Hall, Giles is looking forward to creating his next masterpiece. The last thing he needs is to find himself embroiled in a scandal with an innocent like Isobel Jervis. Yet, the devastatingly attractive architect quickly begins to find himself unable to stop the fiery Miss Jervis from intruding into his thoughts…
After their first calamitous meeting, Isobel had initially written Giles off as a rude and boorish individual, but she had soon changed her mind when she began to see another side to the handsome Mr Harker. Although Isobel had hardened her heart and vowed never to marry, she is surprised by the depth of her feelings for Giles. But how can she possibly even contemplate a future for the two of them when there are so many obstacles standing in their way?
With devastating secrets and powerful enemies intent on jeopardising their burgeoning happiness, will Giles and Isobel have the courage and strength to vanquish the demons that plague them? Or will they allow fear and trepidation to condemn them to a lifetime of loneliness and regret?
A captivating tale of honour, sacrifice and redemption, Rumours: Scandal Comes to Wimpole Hall sweeps readers back to the magnificence and elegance of Regency England and to the astonishing and breathtaking beauty of a stately home in the 19th Century. The fabulous Louise Allen describes Wimpole Hall so vividly that the reader feels as if she is part of the story and not just reading about it.
Louise Allen’s characters are nuanced, well observed and so wonderfully developed that they are sure to capture the hearts of readers everywhere. Isobel is a fantastic heroine whose dignity, humour and strength of character rivals Lizzie Bennett’s and Giles is a wonderfully brooding hero who is simply irresistible!
Written with plenty of flair, vigour and sophistication, Rumors: Scandal Comes to Wimpole Hall is an outstanding historical romance from a writer who always exceeds expectations: Louise Allen!
This review was originally published on Cataromance.
July 31, 2013
This is a completely cute historical romance of strength and deception. Isobel is a defiant and strong female lead that doesn't seem to conform to society's norm expectations of women. I'm so pleased that in the past few days I've read two different historical romances with completely strong and independent female leads. Thank you Harlequin!! It's so refreshing to not have a meek and shy little girl being saved by some rake. It's a refreshing chance for some strong historical women!
Isobel and Giles have a love that's unique to them, but, due to society, they're not a suitable match. Giles has a questionable heritage, and Isobel is the daughter of an Earl. I was taken aback by how Giles held his love from Isobel in order to protect her and make their separation easier. It showed the full extent of his strength of character and his great moral compass - regardless of his birthright.
Isobel's secret is shocking and the end will take you for a spin, but the story is well written with a fabulous cast. Another book for historical readers everywhere!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this novel for honest review.
Isobel and Giles have a love that's unique to them, but, due to society, they're not a suitable match. Giles has a questionable heritage, and Isobel is the daughter of an Earl. I was taken aback by how Giles held his love from Isobel in order to protect her and make their separation easier. It showed the full extent of his strength of character and his great moral compass - regardless of his birthright.
Isobel's secret is shocking and the end will take you for a spin, but the story is well written with a fabulous cast. Another book for historical readers everywhere!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this novel for honest review.
September 19, 2013
I picked this Regency romp up in a National Strust shop thinking it would be a harmless holiday read. A few pages in and I was hooked. The dialogue between the heroine, Isobel, and the hero, Giles, fizzes from the very beginning, with initial conflict rapidly turning to desire and then to love. Isobel has come to Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire to escape from a scandalous situation. Giles, staying there as an architect, has his own scandalous past as an illegitimate son and a rake to contend with. In the rigid social structure of the Regency period, how can these two ever have a future together?
A word of warning, if you read this expecting the chase world of Jane Austen, you'll be shocked by some of the racy scenes!
A word of warning, if you read this expecting the chase world of Jane Austen, you'll be shocked by some of the racy scenes!
January 2, 2016
Like all Louise Allen's books, this one was a joy to read. In Regency Rumours she has created another flawed, brave, believable couple and has beset their romance with entirely credible problems. The historical accuracy is first rate and she has made the most of the local details.
A splendidly feel-good book.
A splendidly feel-good book.
October 11, 2013
Another excellent period piece from Louise Allen, this time produced in conjunction with the National Trust. Beautifully researched and full of people acting perfectly in keeping with the period while not sticking entirely to doing the expected.
October 2, 2016
Another well written and researched story by this author. The plot was unusual and cleverly crafted, weaving in real people and events of the time. The characters were all rounded and believable.
November 23, 2015
Really good Regency romance. The sparks flew between the hero and heroine!
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