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Lord of Scandal
Scandalous and seductive, Lord Hawksmoor is a notorious fortune hunter. A man women want to bed—and men want to do away with. Now he has tasted the woman of his dreams, Catherine Fenton, and he will do anything to make her his.
Though heiress to eighty thousand pounds, Catherine is trapped in a gilded cage, and duty bound to a man she detests. The ton has woven a fantasy around Ben, Lord Hawksmoor, that any woman would find hard to resist, but she senses there is more to the man behind the glittering facade.
She believes he can rescue her—but has she found her hero, or made a pact with the devil himself…?
Though heiress to eighty thousand pounds, Catherine is trapped in a gilded cage, and duty bound to a man she detests. The ton has woven a fantasy around Ben, Lord Hawksmoor, that any woman would find hard to resist, but she senses there is more to the man behind the glittering facade.
She believes he can rescue her—but has she found her hero, or made a pact with the devil himself…?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2005
12 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Cornick
222 books1,168 followersInternational bestselling author Nicola Cornick writes dual-time historical mysteries that draw on her love for genealogy and local history. She studied History at London and Oxford and worked in academia for a number of years before becoming a full time author. Nicola acts as a guide and researcher at the stunning 17th century hunting lodge, Ashdown House and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Lydiard Park in Swindon. She gives talks and tours on a variety of historical topics.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
Nicola lives near Oxford and loves reading, writing, history, music, wildlife, travel and walking her dog. She also loves hearing from her readers and chatting to them. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter @NicolaCornick and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 15, 2009
Lord of Scandal riveted me at the start, but went downhill all too quickly. Though it's clear author Cornick tried hard to make her characters likable, their lack of dimension left me unable to empathize with the problems in their lives. and the over-the-top villain is of the laughing-maniacally-while-drowning-puppies variety. Each time he appeared in a scene, I waited for him to twirl his mustache and sweep his cape around.
Catherine Fenton, a nabob’s daughter (a fact which the author made clear over and over and over again), has come to watch the hanging of a criminal with her father, half brother, and her lecherous soon-to-be fiancé. She is in a bind: she can't touch the money her grandfather left her in trust until she turns 25 or marries. Algernon Withers, her lecherous fiancé and also the puppy-drowning villain, is blackmailing her father and forcing her to marry him. Her father spent all his money drinking and whoring and being the good and sweet daughter that she is, she is strongly considering sacrificing herself to benefit the family.
Benjamin, Lord Hawksmoor, was good friends with Ned Clarencieux, the man in the hangman's noose. Ben thinks he was framed and determines to uncover who is behind this atrocity. But he also has his own problems - a title but no money. He uses his so-called celebrity status and flaunts it in the newspapers and among the ton so he can maintain the lifestyle to which he is accustomed. Ben has a major chip on his shoulder and wants to show up all those rich snobs like his father, who seduced his poor mother and left them penniless in the London slums.
Ben saves Catherine from a mob at the hanging. He is awed by her beauty and innocence and she is attracted by his good looks and reputation. But she can’t even think of marrying him because he is a fortune hunter and will never love her like she wants to be loved.
This book reminded me of a Regency soap opera. Catherine's step-mother, for instance, loved Clarencieux but would sleep with anyone to help keep her laudanum addiction going. Then there was Ben's vain mistress; they weren't intimate, but shared a special bond because he saved her from a life of drudgery years before. And what about Catherine's best friend, who became a courtesan after leaving her husband?
Catherine is one of those "good" heroines who tries to help everyone, all the time. She constantly enters dens of iniquity to keep a secret safe for her step-mother - and Ben is always there to help her out. And though Catherine cannot marry him, she allows him to seduce her. At first Ben thinks it is perfectly alright to to do so; he believes her to be Withers' mistress and that she would welcome him with open arms.
Speaking of seduction, the love scenes are stale, likely because there is no connection between Catherine and Benjamin. As readers we are told why the two feel so unloved, but by then the story is so out of control with more and more mysteries popping up that are never fully explained.
Had the author kept up the fast past storyline as presented in the first few chapters of the book, I'm convinced I would have liked Lord of Scandal. Instead, unfortunately, she wrote too many clichés and stereotypes that I ended the story not caring whether or not the lead characters found happiness with one another.
Catherine Fenton, a nabob’s daughter (a fact which the author made clear over and over and over again), has come to watch the hanging of a criminal with her father, half brother, and her lecherous soon-to-be fiancé. She is in a bind: she can't touch the money her grandfather left her in trust until she turns 25 or marries. Algernon Withers, her lecherous fiancé and also the puppy-drowning villain, is blackmailing her father and forcing her to marry him. Her father spent all his money drinking and whoring and being the good and sweet daughter that she is, she is strongly considering sacrificing herself to benefit the family.
Benjamin, Lord Hawksmoor, was good friends with Ned Clarencieux, the man in the hangman's noose. Ben thinks he was framed and determines to uncover who is behind this atrocity. But he also has his own problems - a title but no money. He uses his so-called celebrity status and flaunts it in the newspapers and among the ton so he can maintain the lifestyle to which he is accustomed. Ben has a major chip on his shoulder and wants to show up all those rich snobs like his father, who seduced his poor mother and left them penniless in the London slums.
Ben saves Catherine from a mob at the hanging. He is awed by her beauty and innocence and she is attracted by his good looks and reputation. But she can’t even think of marrying him because he is a fortune hunter and will never love her like she wants to be loved.
This book reminded me of a Regency soap opera. Catherine's step-mother, for instance, loved Clarencieux but would sleep with anyone to help keep her laudanum addiction going. Then there was Ben's vain mistress; they weren't intimate, but shared a special bond because he saved her from a life of drudgery years before. And what about Catherine's best friend, who became a courtesan after leaving her husband?
Catherine is one of those "good" heroines who tries to help everyone, all the time. She constantly enters dens of iniquity to keep a secret safe for her step-mother - and Ben is always there to help her out. And though Catherine cannot marry him, she allows him to seduce her. At first Ben thinks it is perfectly alright to to do so; he believes her to be Withers' mistress and that she would welcome him with open arms.
Speaking of seduction, the love scenes are stale, likely because there is no connection between Catherine and Benjamin. As readers we are told why the two feel so unloved, but by then the story is so out of control with more and more mysteries popping up that are never fully explained.
Had the author kept up the fast past storyline as presented in the first few chapters of the book, I'm convinced I would have liked Lord of Scandal. Instead, unfortunately, she wrote too many clichés and stereotypes that I ended the story not caring whether or not the lead characters found happiness with one another.
March 6, 2013
Rzadko sięgam po romanse. Nie jestem szczególną fanką tego typu literatury. Naiwnej, przesłodzonej i z góry przewidywalnej. Ale że od pewnego czasu lubię czytać powieści historyczne zainteresowała mnie książka Nicoli Cornick „Skandalista”.
Bena Hawksmoorea zna cały Londyn. Gównie jest znany ze tego, że jest nieślubnym synem hrabiego i ze skandali, które wywołuje na każdym kroku. Ponadto jest uwodzicielem kobiet, które mają do niego słabość. Jednak Ben zapewnia że nigdy nie ożeni się z miłości lecz jeśli już się zdecyduje na taki krok, uczyni to tylko dla majątku swojej wybranki. Natomiast Catherine Fenton jest panienką z dobrego domu, zaręczoną z mężczyzną, którego wybrał dla niej ojciec i którego szczerze nienawidzi. Los sprawia, że pewnego dnia Ben i Kate się spotykają. Ponieważ spotkanie następuje w szczególnych okolicznościach Ben najpierw bierze Kate za kurtyzanę lecz gdy dowiaduje się, że jest jedną z najzamożniejszych spadkobierczyń Londynu, postanawia porosić ją o rękę. Nie doceniał jednak panny Fenton bo okazuje się, że nie jest ona taka jak większość dam, z jakimi miął do tej pory do czynienia.
Książkę czytało mi się bardzo przyjemnie. Autorka ma lekkie pióro dzięki czemu przeczytałam ją bardzo szybko.
Mimo tego, że można się było domyśleć jak zakończą się losy Kate i Bena, to autorka potrafiła zainteresować mnie opowiadaną historią. W ciekawy sposób połączyła powieść historyczną, romans i lekki kryminał co spowodowało, że książkę czytałam się z zaciekawieniem i momentami naprawdę zostałam zaskoczona.
Do tego postacie Catherine i Bena przedstawiono jako osoby z charakterem i potrafiące dążyć do tego co sobie zaplanują. Podczas lektury widać jak się zmieniają. Zwłaszcza Kate, z grzecznej, zalęknionej dziewczyny stała się odważną, samodzielnie myślącą kobietą. Poza tym oboje byli bardzo sympatyczni i dający się polubić od pierwszych stron książki.
Autorka ciekawie ukazuje życie XIX wiecznej Anglii. Traktowanie kobiet jak przedmioty, o których decydować mogli tylko mężczyźni, sztywne konwenanse, których złamanie równało się z wykluczeniem z towarzystwa i zbrukaniem swojej opinii. Bardzo szokujące były fragmenty poradnika „Zasady dobrego wychowania dla dam” Elizy Squire, które autorka umieściła na początku każdego rozdziału. Teksty typu: „Jeśli dziewczyna wychodzi sama, taki akt uważa się za nieprzystojny, nawet jeżeli wychodzi z kościoła” albo „Narzeczeni jeśli nie znajdują się w towarzystwie przyzwoitki, nigdy pod żadnym pozorem, nie mogą siedzieć razem, spacerować razem ani spędzać czasu razem” naprawdę było mi ciężko przetrawić...
Jest jeszcze jedna rzecz, która mi się podobała w „Skandaliście”. Mianowicie, sceny miłosne. Może to przez ten wysyp porno książek, w których sceny erotyczne opisywane są w bardzo dosłowny sposób, tak spodobało mi się zupełnie inne ich przedstawienie przez Nicole Cornick. Tu tego typu momenty były romantyczne, uczuciowe i opisane w delikatny i oszczędny sposób, co było miłą odmianą, od tak teraz popularnych opowieści erotycznych. Mimo tego, że w książce temat seksu jest obecny przez większość czasu to wszystko jest napisane ze smakiem.
Polecam „Skandalistę” osobom, które chcą spędzić miło czas nad lekką i przyjemną lekturą a przy okazji zapoznać się z bardzo kontrowersyjnymi obyczajami jakie panowały w XIX wiecznej Anglii.
http://www.czytoholiczka.blogspot.com...
Bena Hawksmoorea zna cały Londyn. Gównie jest znany ze tego, że jest nieślubnym synem hrabiego i ze skandali, które wywołuje na każdym kroku. Ponadto jest uwodzicielem kobiet, które mają do niego słabość. Jednak Ben zapewnia że nigdy nie ożeni się z miłości lecz jeśli już się zdecyduje na taki krok, uczyni to tylko dla majątku swojej wybranki. Natomiast Catherine Fenton jest panienką z dobrego domu, zaręczoną z mężczyzną, którego wybrał dla niej ojciec i którego szczerze nienawidzi. Los sprawia, że pewnego dnia Ben i Kate się spotykają. Ponieważ spotkanie następuje w szczególnych okolicznościach Ben najpierw bierze Kate za kurtyzanę lecz gdy dowiaduje się, że jest jedną z najzamożniejszych spadkobierczyń Londynu, postanawia porosić ją o rękę. Nie doceniał jednak panny Fenton bo okazuje się, że nie jest ona taka jak większość dam, z jakimi miął do tej pory do czynienia.
Książkę czytało mi się bardzo przyjemnie. Autorka ma lekkie pióro dzięki czemu przeczytałam ją bardzo szybko.
Mimo tego, że można się było domyśleć jak zakończą się losy Kate i Bena, to autorka potrafiła zainteresować mnie opowiadaną historią. W ciekawy sposób połączyła powieść historyczną, romans i lekki kryminał co spowodowało, że książkę czytałam się z zaciekawieniem i momentami naprawdę zostałam zaskoczona.
Do tego postacie Catherine i Bena przedstawiono jako osoby z charakterem i potrafiące dążyć do tego co sobie zaplanują. Podczas lektury widać jak się zmieniają. Zwłaszcza Kate, z grzecznej, zalęknionej dziewczyny stała się odważną, samodzielnie myślącą kobietą. Poza tym oboje byli bardzo sympatyczni i dający się polubić od pierwszych stron książki.
Autorka ciekawie ukazuje życie XIX wiecznej Anglii. Traktowanie kobiet jak przedmioty, o których decydować mogli tylko mężczyźni, sztywne konwenanse, których złamanie równało się z wykluczeniem z towarzystwa i zbrukaniem swojej opinii. Bardzo szokujące były fragmenty poradnika „Zasady dobrego wychowania dla dam” Elizy Squire, które autorka umieściła na początku każdego rozdziału. Teksty typu: „Jeśli dziewczyna wychodzi sama, taki akt uważa się za nieprzystojny, nawet jeżeli wychodzi z kościoła” albo „Narzeczeni jeśli nie znajdują się w towarzystwie przyzwoitki, nigdy pod żadnym pozorem, nie mogą siedzieć razem, spacerować razem ani spędzać czasu razem” naprawdę było mi ciężko przetrawić...
Jest jeszcze jedna rzecz, która mi się podobała w „Skandaliście”. Mianowicie, sceny miłosne. Może to przez ten wysyp porno książek, w których sceny erotyczne opisywane są w bardzo dosłowny sposób, tak spodobało mi się zupełnie inne ich przedstawienie przez Nicole Cornick. Tu tego typu momenty były romantyczne, uczuciowe i opisane w delikatny i oszczędny sposób, co było miłą odmianą, od tak teraz popularnych opowieści erotycznych. Mimo tego, że w książce temat seksu jest obecny przez większość czasu to wszystko jest napisane ze smakiem.
Polecam „Skandalistę” osobom, które chcą spędzić miło czas nad lekką i przyjemną lekturą a przy okazji zapoznać się z bardzo kontrowersyjnymi obyczajami jakie panowały w XIX wiecznej Anglii.
http://www.czytoholiczka.blogspot.com...
December 29, 2014
Nicola Cornick has long been one of my favourite Regency romance authors, I particularly like her unconventional characters and attention to detail.
Lord of Scandal started off well - the characters are well developed, likeable and deeply flawed making them interesting. If anything, the hero is a little too flawed.
The story is exciting and I particularly liked its touching on the darker side of society - the wastrels, brothels, mistresses and laudanum addiction. This is a nice change from squeaky clean Austen clones.
The ending to this is what lets it down and why it only gets 3 stars - whereas 3/4 of the book probably deserved 4. The ending is frankly terrible. The villain of the piece apparently dies in a spectacularly dramatic fashion falling through a crack of ice on the Thames and drowning. Laughable enough but then he magically survives and is able to come back at the end just in time for the duel to shoot the hero. There is no explanation of how he came back or where he's been - Eh?
The duel itself - the heroine challenges the hero to a pistol duel not once, but twice (talk about melodramatic!) - the first time because he wants to marry her for her money and the second time when he abandons her because it turns out she has no money.
I felt abandoning his wife when he finds out her father has in fact embezzled all her money was probably the final nail in the coffin for the flawed Lord Hawksmoor and had I been poor Catherine would have said good riddance at this point. There's acceptable behaviour for a hero and then there's some things that are unforgivable and given his poor track record leaving his wife at this point is very disappointing.
The problem is I cared. Really was rooting for the characters but felt that the ludicrous ending and dismal behaviour of the hero at the end really let this one down. Such a shame as the rest of it is very engaging.
Lord of Scandal started off well - the characters are well developed, likeable and deeply flawed making them interesting. If anything, the hero is a little too flawed.
The story is exciting and I particularly liked its touching on the darker side of society - the wastrels, brothels, mistresses and laudanum addiction. This is a nice change from squeaky clean Austen clones.
The ending to this is what lets it down and why it only gets 3 stars - whereas 3/4 of the book probably deserved 4. The ending is frankly terrible. The villain of the piece apparently dies in a spectacularly dramatic fashion falling through a crack of ice on the Thames and drowning. Laughable enough but then he magically survives and is able to come back at the end just in time for the duel to shoot the hero. There is no explanation of how he came back or where he's been - Eh?
The duel itself - the heroine challenges the hero to a pistol duel not once, but twice (talk about melodramatic!) - the first time because he wants to marry her for her money and the second time when he abandons her because it turns out she has no money.
I felt abandoning his wife when he finds out her father has in fact embezzled all her money was probably the final nail in the coffin for the flawed Lord Hawksmoor and had I been poor Catherine would have said good riddance at this point. There's acceptable behaviour for a hero and then there's some things that are unforgivable and given his poor track record leaving his wife at this point is very disappointing.
The problem is I cared. Really was rooting for the characters but felt that the ludicrous ending and dismal behaviour of the hero at the end really let this one down. Such a shame as the rest of it is very engaging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2019
Not a re-read. Could barely finish this.
August 7, 2021
A essere sincera non so decidermi se questo romanzo mi sia piaciuto o meno. L'inizio è stato un po' lento e noioso poi si è ripreso nella seconda parte.
Il cattivo è palese sin dalle primissime pagine del romanzo ed è immediatamente chiaro che l'amico del protagonista è stato incastrato.
La protagonista femminile mi è sembrata un po' troppo ingenua per i miei gusti considerato i numerosi elementi che aveva in mano continuava a cercare del buono.
Il finale invece non è per niente scontato.
Il cattivo è palese sin dalle primissime pagine del romanzo ed è immediatamente chiaro che l'amico del protagonista è stato incastrato.
La protagonista femminile mi è sembrata un po' troppo ingenua per i miei gusti considerato i numerosi elementi che aveva in mano continuava a cercare del buono.
Il finale invece non è per niente scontato.
January 14, 2019
Intense, satisfying
A penniless rake who has vowed to never fall in love. An heiress who will only marry for love. Familiar characters in a story made fresh by the pen of Nicola Cornish. A surprising, twisty, intensely emotional tale.
A penniless rake who has vowed to never fall in love. An heiress who will only marry for love. Familiar characters in a story made fresh by the pen of Nicola Cornish. A surprising, twisty, intensely emotional tale.
April 27, 2019
Uneven pacing and a rape/murder told from the victim’s point of view. No thanks.
August 13, 2014
http://emmatom.skyrock.com/3222413127...
Un agréable roman !
J'avais déjà lu un roman de Nicola Cornick mais qui ne m'avait vraiment pas plus plu que ça ... A vrai dire, je débutais dans la romance historique et je n'avais pas encore de style d'histoire bien précis. J'avais donc pris au hasard un de ces romans ... Bref, un roman dont je ne me rappelle même pas l'histoire ni le titre d'ailleurs ...
Mais ce roman-là ! ... Voici bien longtemps qu'il traîne dans ma PAL et j'avais eu beaucoup de difficultés à l'acheter pour diverses raisons ...
Et j'ai décidé de me lancer parce que je n'avais rien sous la dent à ce moment-là.
Et bien, j'ai bien fait !
Catherine Fenton est une jeune femme qui est promise à un homme exécrable qui manipule aisément son père pour ne pas lui faire voir à quel point il va rendre malheureuse sa fille. Bien que le père de Catherine ne soit pas un homme très aimant avec sa fille ...
La rencontre entre Catherine ou Kate et Ben Hawskmoor est assez ... intense. J'ia beaucoup aimé la scène, ça reflète beaucoup le changement radicale qu'il s'opère entre les deux personnages. Malheureusement, tout ne va pas se passe comme c'était prévu ...
Beaucoup de personne vont se mettre en travers du chemin du jeune lord et de Catherine. Ben va d'abord la prendre pour une courtisane mais cela ne va pas altérer son désir pour elle ... Même quand il découvrira qu'elle est en fait l'héritière la plus fortunée de tout Londres.
La romance va se mettre en place peu à peu mais avec beaucoup de simplicité et de sensualité.
On a droit à une modification du comportement des personnages tout à fait positive ... Sauf vers la fin, là où tout va radicalement se métamorphoser pour nos deux protagonistes.
En bref, c'est une très belle romance que je conseille aux fans de romances historiques avec de beaux débauchés !
Un agréable roman !
J'avais déjà lu un roman de Nicola Cornick mais qui ne m'avait vraiment pas plus plu que ça ... A vrai dire, je débutais dans la romance historique et je n'avais pas encore de style d'histoire bien précis. J'avais donc pris au hasard un de ces romans ... Bref, un roman dont je ne me rappelle même pas l'histoire ni le titre d'ailleurs ...
Mais ce roman-là ! ... Voici bien longtemps qu'il traîne dans ma PAL et j'avais eu beaucoup de difficultés à l'acheter pour diverses raisons ...
Et j'ai décidé de me lancer parce que je n'avais rien sous la dent à ce moment-là.
Et bien, j'ai bien fait !
Catherine Fenton est une jeune femme qui est promise à un homme exécrable qui manipule aisément son père pour ne pas lui faire voir à quel point il va rendre malheureuse sa fille. Bien que le père de Catherine ne soit pas un homme très aimant avec sa fille ...
La rencontre entre Catherine ou Kate et Ben Hawskmoor est assez ... intense. J'ia beaucoup aimé la scène, ça reflète beaucoup le changement radicale qu'il s'opère entre les deux personnages. Malheureusement, tout ne va pas se passe comme c'était prévu ...
Beaucoup de personne vont se mettre en travers du chemin du jeune lord et de Catherine. Ben va d'abord la prendre pour une courtisane mais cela ne va pas altérer son désir pour elle ... Même quand il découvrira qu'elle est en fait l'héritière la plus fortunée de tout Londres.
La romance va se mettre en place peu à peu mais avec beaucoup de simplicité et de sensualité.
On a droit à une modification du comportement des personnages tout à fait positive ... Sauf vers la fin, là où tout va radicalement se métamorphoser pour nos deux protagonistes.
En bref, c'est une très belle romance que je conseille aux fans de romances historiques avec de beaux débauchés !
February 13, 2013
Lord of Scandal is the story of a young heiress, bound by duty to a man she detests, and a scandalous lord, who wants her. Ben, Lord Hawksmoor, thrives in scandal and notoriety to get what he wants.
I like bad boys and Ben Hawksmoor is definitely a very, very bad boy. A notorious adventurer who works for what he wants in life, with charms to match, is a hero I can have any day of the week. He’s a curious mix of strength and vulnerability which I find very endearing. And his honesty towards his tendency for fortune-hunting is very refreshing. With Ben, there was no dull moment and I think the line ‘he can charm the birds out of the trees’ fit him to perfection.
I had my reservations about Catherine. She seemed too tame, too kind, and too conventional for Ben, at first. Then she slowly grew on me. I like heroines who save themselves instead of waiting for others to save them. She’s a very strong character, emotionally, and I can’t help but fall in love with her. It came as shock when she first challenged Ben to name his seconds, it’s the first time I read about a lady challenging a gentleman to a duel and I have to say it’s quite amazing, but the best surprise of all is learning she can actually shoot and by that time I was already lost to the character that was Catherine Fenton.
Ben and Catherine’s story is a stand-off. It’s like a staring contest between two stubborn individuals who wouldn’t give in or give-up easily. It’s understandable why dueling played a big part on their story and that’s what makes them quite unique.
Well if someone broke my heart too and I have an opportunity to put a bullet through him by means of a duel I’d say why not?
I like bad boys and Ben Hawksmoor is definitely a very, very bad boy. A notorious adventurer who works for what he wants in life, with charms to match, is a hero I can have any day of the week. He’s a curious mix of strength and vulnerability which I find very endearing. And his honesty towards his tendency for fortune-hunting is very refreshing. With Ben, there was no dull moment and I think the line ‘he can charm the birds out of the trees’ fit him to perfection.
I had my reservations about Catherine. She seemed too tame, too kind, and too conventional for Ben, at first. Then she slowly grew on me. I like heroines who save themselves instead of waiting for others to save them. She’s a very strong character, emotionally, and I can’t help but fall in love with her. It came as shock when she first challenged Ben to name his seconds, it’s the first time I read about a lady challenging a gentleman to a duel and I have to say it’s quite amazing, but the best surprise of all is learning she can actually shoot and by that time I was already lost to the character that was Catherine Fenton.
Ben and Catherine’s story is a stand-off. It’s like a staring contest between two stubborn individuals who wouldn’t give in or give-up easily. It’s understandable why dueling played a big part on their story and that’s what makes them quite unique.
Well if someone broke my heart too and I have an opportunity to put a bullet through him by means of a duel I’d say why not?
March 12, 2013
This is my first Nicola Cornick book and I found her style engaging though a quick look at her other reviews in GR reveals that this isn't considered amongst her best by readers. Which means that I'll try a few more of her writing. The h/h pair of Ben and Catherine are each interesting characters in their own right and I particularly liked the way Catherine stands up for herself; though her timid behaviour at the beginning of the book doesn't prepare one for the transformation later (I found this change too drastic to be believable). Ben's honest owning up to his selfishness is refreshing and the formative influences to make him so are skillfully explained. His metamorphosis from self centred to selfless in love could have been more tautly written. The biggest bugaboo for me was the villain who was written up almost farcically - as if the author wanted us to hate him, never doubt his villainy and never be surprised by his increasingly nefarious deeds to keep our h/h apart.
February 13, 2011
En odottanut kirjata suuria, olihan se samaa kioskipokkarisarjaa kuin äskettäin lukemani Nora Roberts. Olin molemmat siis ostanut kesämökillä ollessani S-Marketista. :D
Anyway, kirja ei tosiaankaan mikään ihmeellinen ollut. Ihan luettavaa ja paikoittain mielenkiintoistakin, muttei mitään järisyttävän erinomaista. Juoni oli sinänsä keksiliäis, mutta kirjailija ei saanut hahmoja riittävän aidoiksi ja mielenkiintoisiksi. Kirjasta puuttui sitä jotain! Lisäksi siinä esiintyi monta turhaa sivuhenkilöä ja -juonta. Esimerkiksi Benin serkun Samin ihastus Catharinen ystävättäreen Lilyyn oli aivan turha.
Kirja ei ollut hyvä, muttei kuitenkaan aivan surkeakaan. Jos kirjailija olisi työstänyt sitä enemmän ja panostanut kunnolla, voisi se olla paljon parempi.
Anyway, kirja ei tosiaankaan mikään ihmeellinen ollut. Ihan luettavaa ja paikoittain mielenkiintoistakin, muttei mitään järisyttävän erinomaista. Juoni oli sinänsä keksiliäis, mutta kirjailija ei saanut hahmoja riittävän aidoiksi ja mielenkiintoisiksi. Kirjasta puuttui sitä jotain! Lisäksi siinä esiintyi monta turhaa sivuhenkilöä ja -juonta. Esimerkiksi Benin serkun Samin ihastus Catharinen ystävättäreen Lilyyn oli aivan turha.
Kirja ei ollut hyvä, muttei kuitenkaan aivan surkeakaan. Jos kirjailija olisi työstänyt sitä enemmän ja panostanut kunnolla, voisi se olla paljon parempi.
August 6, 2016
A fun easy read that dealt with important topics like the abuse of women and the plight of those unable to fend for themselves. I adored Catherine's courage and I felt deeply for her friend Lily who ends up as a courtesan and is then murdered by a client. Ben is afraid of love and I did feel for him. I also felt for Sam, his cousin who always had a tender affection for Lily but never spoke up. If only he had, she might have lived.
Catherine's father is a weak and useless man. He ruins her fortune and his family. But I applaud the author for her excellent characterisation - his very weakness made the story for me. He wasn't a villain, he was just weak.
Catherine's father is a weak and useless man. He ruins her fortune and his family. But I applaud the author for her excellent characterisation - his very weakness made the story for me. He wasn't a villain, he was just weak.
June 27, 2013
Review taken from my blog in August 2011 (#153) after borrowing book from local library.
Catherine Fenton is an heiress worth £80,000 and caught in a gilded cage, she is engaged to man she hates and surrounded by a cold and dis-functional family.
Benjamin, Lord Hawksmoor is a rake, scandalous, seductive and a notorious fortune-hunter.
Having kissed the woman of his dreams he will stop at nothing to make her his own, but will Caroline find his as hard to resist as the other women do, and will he rescue her?
A 4 star read, with an enjoyable story line, nothing to irritate or annoy in this tale.
Catherine Fenton is an heiress worth £80,000 and caught in a gilded cage, she is engaged to man she hates and surrounded by a cold and dis-functional family.
Benjamin, Lord Hawksmoor is a rake, scandalous, seductive and a notorious fortune-hunter.
Having kissed the woman of his dreams he will stop at nothing to make her his own, but will Caroline find his as hard to resist as the other women do, and will he rescue her?
A 4 star read, with an enjoyable story line, nothing to irritate or annoy in this tale.
September 6, 2015
Yleissivistysmielessä luettu harlekiini aiheenaan viattoman mutta omapäisen debytantin ja vaikeista oloista tulleen hurjapäälordin kielletyt tunteet :D Eipä tämä lajityyppi ihan minua varten ole ja myönnän räkättäneeni pahimmille maneereille ääneen. Laudanumia, kurtisaaneja, uhkapelejä, haudanryöstäjiä ja naamiojuhlia kuhiseva Lontoon pimeä puoli oli ihan kiehtova tausta tarinalle. Tavoista, joilla tekstissä tehtiin vastenmielisesti eroa "hyvien" ja "huonojen" naisten välille, saisin aikaiseksi monen sivun ärhäkän naistutkimuksen esseen :) Maailmanmatkaavasta Agatha-tädistä olisin lukenut mielelläni enemmänkin.
May 26, 2009
I was led to this book when reading reviews of Cornick's latest romance. I thought that she sounded like her characters and style. It was a fine book. Nothing outstanding, but I would read this author again. It may be that I did Cornick an injustice. I don't usually read romances back to back, but I did this past weekend. I think it might have been like eating a whole box of chocolates. Good, but a little too much.
These characters were interesting, fun and their story kept me reading. I am just not willing to say that this was among the best I have read.
These characters were interesting, fun and their story kept me reading. I am just not willing to say that this was among the best I have read.
July 28, 2013
Lord of scandal eli suomeksi Skandaalien lordi. Jokaisen romantiikan näljäisen kirja. Henkilöhahmot eläväisiä, vaikka muut kun päähenkilöt (2) jäi vähän kaukaisiksi ja olivat selvästi vaan sivujuoni. Kirjan ainut oikea juoni oli selvä: rakastaa-ei rakasta-rakastaa =D
Pidin kovasti hauskoista juonenkäänteistä ja sivuhenkilöhahmojen hauskuudesta, varsinkin toisen päähenkilön nk. "rakastajatar" oli tosi hupaisa tyyppi, jolle ei voinut kun hymähdellä.
Pidin kovasti hauskoista juonenkäänteistä ja sivuhenkilöhahmojen hauskuudesta, varsinkin toisen päähenkilön nk. "rakastajatar" oli tosi hupaisa tyyppi, jolle ei voinut kun hymähdellä.
January 30, 2010
This is the first time I have read one of Nicola Cornick's books and I love the pacing of her story. The story line does not rush the relationship between Catherine Fenton and Ben Hawksmoor. In addition there are enough twists and turns to the story to keep it interesting. All in all a very enjoyable read.
September 7, 2013
Caroline, a wealthy heiress, finds herself trying to rescue her family and keeps running into bad bad Ben Hawksmoor. Well-written, generally, but too many coincidences and it ends right when I thought it had just started. I think I would have given it three stars but it's unfortunately similarly named to Lord of Scoundrels, which set my expectations (irrationally) uncomfortably high.
November 9, 2016
I've always loved Nicola Cornick's writing, and I love this book too. This story is dark in part and kept me on the edge of my seat. The mood of it made me feel I was almost a part of the story, and was reading faster so that I could get to the next chapter.
Although this book was published in 2007, I feel it holds up to today's novels.
5*****
Although this book was published in 2007, I feel it holds up to today's novels.
5*****
May 12, 2008
Out of all the serious books I had taken out of the library, the one that I couldn't renew because someone else had it on request was... this. So I began it for my own amusement, and ended up finishing it and returning it a day or two late. The characters sucked me in!
January 17, 2012
My favorite part of this exciting historical was the villain. Just love those bad boys who can't quite get over the heroine! In this case, he cause me to pick up and read the book a second time years later. Kudos to Nicola Cornick!
January 20, 2009
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 12, 2017
Regency
February 18, 2011
Did not finish.
September 27, 2011
Some good emotional moments in the story.
November 9, 2011
Loving it! Nicola Cornick is fantastic!
May 31, 2017
2.5
June 15, 2012
As regency romance goes, quite good.
May 12, 2015
Uus lemmik kirjanik ;)
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