Scandalous

by Cassandra Dean

From Award-Winning Australian author Cassandra Dean comes a short novella of lost love and second chances...

The dissolute Earl of Edgington is the last man Miss Sofia Hargrove ever wanted to see again. Ten years ago, she fell foolishly in love and, worse, she thought he loved her in return. Recklessly, she indulged her passion in a moonlit garden….and was caught. Ruined, she ran to the Continent, and then was devastated again when he didn’t follow. Now, at a London ball, he stands before her and begs for a chance to explain.

Edgington knows Sofia will never forgive him. For ten years, memories of her have haunted him, but his memories pale next to the bright, vibrant woman she’s become. The chance to explain, to ask her forgiveness, burns inside him, alongside the dormant passion he’s never forgotten and a long-held love that will no longer be denied.

Cassandra Dean, author of the bestselling Teach Me and Finding Lord Farlisle, entices readers once more with a tale of passion, love and second chances.

For the first time, Scandalous is available as a standalone novella of approximately 7,000 words. Scandalous originally appeared in SECOND A Romance Writers of America collection.

Genres: Historical Romance

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2019

About the author

Cassandra Dean is an award-winning author of historical and fantasy romance. She grew up daydreaming, inventing fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures. Once she learned to read (First phrase – To the Beach. True story), she was never without a book, reading of other people’s fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures.

Cassandra is proud to call South Australia her home, where she regularly cheers on her AFL football team and creates her next tale.

Visit Cassandra’s website at http://cassandradean.com

Join Cassandra’s mailing list at http://cassandradean.com/extras/subsc...

Be sure to follow Cassandra on BookBub for the latest on sales: https://bit.ly/3rzSIpu

Follow Cassandra on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandra... and on Twitter @authorCassDean

Contact Cassandra at cassandra@cassandradean.com

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but I don't call this a "book." It was more like a high school English class essay writing assignment. It was as though the author had decided to just hurry up and get thru it as quickly as possible. Over half the "book" was loaded with chapters from her 2nd and 3rd stories. I think that the synopsis of the stories told about as much as the stories themselves. There were also several typos and grammatical errors. Sorry, but I just don't think this writer is ready to hang with the big girls yet.

[madtrekkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sofia and Michael

After 10 years abroad Sofia has returned to England. Attending a party Michael contemplates it might be time to change his life.

This is such a great story! I love second chances with strong characters. Michael isnt perfect - he's well aware of his short comings - but Sofia is prepared to forgive him. Story is well written, fast paced, with lots of chemistry between the characters. Told from dual POVs reveals intimately their thoughts, feelings and emotions as they explore their relationship.

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually do short stories, but Cassandra is one of my favorite authors. This is a great short read of young lovers, second chances and forgiveness. Michael and Sofie were best friends then lovers then he broke her heart and she run. For ten years while his life had many changes also. When she finally comes back they see each other at a party. He loves her, she hates him! Oh, my what is he to do. Grab you copy and a cup of tea and enjoy this story with so many emotions. I love that the nasty person from their past finally gets what they deserve. I love gardens too. Hum

[Richard · Rating 1 out of 5]

At only 26 pages this is very much a short story, if indeed you can really call it a story. There is no room for any form of character development or realistic plot. We are asked to believe that after the MMC has left a young 17 year old girl to face public scandal in an act of selfish cowardice, she nurses her hurt and anger for 10 years and then forgives him during the course of a relatively short private conversation.

I am surprised the author released this as she has produced much better work.

[Nancy Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scandalous

This story had all the emotions, scandal, scenery on both continents, commitment and characters to be a five star book, but it was not long enough!! The lead couple were interesting, lively, with strong emotions and wit, but needed more words to round it out into a really good novel. I will read another of Ms Dean's books as this was my first of hers, and I feel she has great potential.

[Celeste · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t normally give one star ratings, but I’m not sure I understood the point of a 40 page writing piece. Through my quick glance, I’m not seeing that there was a previous book to the novella, and I’m really confused as to what the point behind the story was… It showed up in my email as an ARC, I don’t even remember having asked for this copy, I think it was something that was just sent to me. It was a quick read, I just don’t know that I understand the point of it.

[Cindy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short novella, Scandalous will sweep you away in in the journey of Michael and Sophia. Michael, a rake who had no reason to change found Sofia but scandal tore them apart. Ten years later will Michael be able to find forgiveness from Sofia? Cassandra Dean's characters never failed to delight; they have depth, are strong willed and, have great chemistry.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Short story, only 5 chapters so maybe that's why it wasn't particularly engaging or satisfying. We don't have long enough to get to know or care about this pair of 2nd chance lovers who meet at a ball 10 yrs after he ruined her (caught kissing- never proposed, she fled to Europe only just returned) and declare their love.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short story, only five chapters. Michael and Sofia got caught in a kiss ten years ago. He didn't offer for her hand and she left the country due to the scandal. Now she's back and he's finally offering an apology. It's too short to really develop the characters or their relationship, but it's interesting. A nice, quick, light read. 3.5 stars

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet second chance novella! It is always so satisfying to see the main characters find their glowing HEA the second time around!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet read

A very short story but it left nothing out as it wove the to it’s happy end. A bit short but it fit my time frame

[Dorothy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Expected a full novel and got a short story.

[Rebekah Carulli Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read but an enjoyable one. I think Cassandra packed a lot of emotions into it. We all love a redemption story and a second chance. R. K. Hanson

[Peggy Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this Novella but could have used a few more pages

[Julie ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little ditty….. having read a few of Cassandra’s books this one is definitely short and sweet .

[Donna Nalbandian Woerner Homschek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely fast paced novella of a second chance at love.

[DD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scandalously short. No character development.

Disappointing.

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

One very long miscommunication. Quick and emotional. They should have had a conversation about a decade earlier.

[Anij · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Once, someone had looked at him as if he could be better and, for a brief moment, he'd believed her."

Understand this upfront, this is a five chapter, thirty page short story. No prologue, no epilogue, and except for the final chapter, everything happens in one evening. While it has a full hea ending, it's not a complete story. It's more like a single scene of a pivotal moment in their lives.

I really liked Michael and Sofie. They were both interesting and I could sense the chemistry and connection between them. So much is hinted at and I truly wish Cassandra would take this and expand it into a full book. I'd love to see their entire story, beginning to end and even an epilogue. I want to watch them as they meet and begin to fall in love, to see the years apart, and then their courtship. I think it would be wonderful. Who knows, maybe one day I'll get my wish.

Three and a half stars, I rounded up because Cassandra actually made me care about them both in just thirty short pages.