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London Explorers #1
In Search of Scandal
A DARING EXPLORER
All of London is abuzz with the tale of Will Repton. The lone survivor of a massacre in Tibet has returned to England a hero, but the traumatized explorer has no time for glory. Another dangerous expedition awaits. Nothing will deter him from his quest, and no one will unearth his secret—until Will meets Charlotte Baker.
IS NO MATCH FOR AN ADVENTUROUS HEART
Vivacious Charlotte Baker is on a quest of her own—the discovery of a heroic husband to raise the family name. When she meets Will—quite literally, the man of her dreams—no other man will do. The only problem is, marriage is the last thing on his mind.
The mantel clock is ticking. The tides are changing. What if an explorer's greatest adventure doesn’t lie across an ocean, but within his own lost heart?
All of London is abuzz with the tale of Will Repton. The lone survivor of a massacre in Tibet has returned to England a hero, but the traumatized explorer has no time for glory. Another dangerous expedition awaits. Nothing will deter him from his quest, and no one will unearth his secret—until Will meets Charlotte Baker.
IS NO MATCH FOR AN ADVENTUROUS HEART
Vivacious Charlotte Baker is on a quest of her own—the discovery of a heroic husband to raise the family name. When she meets Will—quite literally, the man of her dreams—no other man will do. The only problem is, marriage is the last thing on his mind.
The mantel clock is ticking. The tides are changing. What if an explorer's greatest adventure doesn’t lie across an ocean, but within his own lost heart?
Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2015
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About the author
Susanne Lord
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
March 31, 2016
2,5 Stars
If the writing showed potential, especially for a début, and the plot had all the numbers for telling a very engrossing story, the characterisations lacking some greater substance quite ruined the final outcome for me.
The troubled botanist hero, crushed by the guilt a nightmarish expedition left behind, and the sheltered heroine trying to do her duty by her socially shunned family, instead of making for a poignant contrast ended up being two rather bland leads not up to the role they were initially assigned. His self-imposed restraint and emotional denial soon became repetitive and just "token" given his contradictory behaviour, while the heroine's motivations for single-mindedly pursuing him honestly looked only like an obstinate juvenile infatuation and little more. That the villain's rationale behind his actions made almost no sense whatsoever also didn't help.
Since the narration and style contained some nice and enjoyable spark, I'm willing to try the next instalment in the series, hoping the characterisations will be better thought-out with more consistency.
September 17, 2016
I've given this a B at AAR, so that's 4 stars.
In Search of Scandal, the first in a new series of historical romances by Susanne Lord is the author’s first novel, and a very strong début it is. She is clearly an excellent storyteller, having crafted a compelling and emotionally nuanced tale featuring a hero with an unusual background and a romance in which both protagonists have changes and reassessments to make if they are going to make things work between them.
On the downside, the heroine is rather irritating for the first part of the book, and her motivations are either unclear or simply don’t make sense; and there were a few times I felt that something needed fleshing out more or further exploration. But on the whole it’s a well-written and very readable story that will definitely appeal to readers who, like me, like their romances with a goodly-sized side-order of angst.
The plot turns on the rather complicated family situation of the heroine, Charlotte Baker. Her sister married an earl, and that, together with Charlotte’s vivacious beauty, ensured that she was much admired and courted by many gentlemen. But when the earl died and Lucy re-married (for love) an untitled botanist, that, and their origins as ‘commoners’ meant that the family was no longer accepted by the ton. While Ben and Lucy don’t appear to care all that much about it, Charlotte now sees it as her responsibility to make a good match so that the family can be elevated once more and so that she can ensure her younger sisters are accepted into society and have the chance to make good marriages. Further complicating matters is the fact that her brother Wallace was recently the subject of a sodomy trial, but this only makes her all the more determined to restore her family’s name and reputation.
One of her brother’s associates, William Repton, has recently returned to London after five years spent exploring and collecting plant specimens from Tibet and China. Charlotte has eagerly followed the written accounts of his expeditions published by the Geographical Society, and, over the years, has built an image in her mind of him as the perfect man – handsome, kind, daring and brave – and just the man for her. If she weds a man of such celebrity, she believes, every door will be open to her and her family, so not only will she have accomplished her aim in their regard, she will have secured herself the husband of her dreams.
Her first sight of Will Repton only reinforces her belief in the rightness of her scheme – he’s absolutely gorgeous (even though he walks with a pronounced limp) and although he seems quite shy, Charlotte is convinced he is “the one” and is sure it won’t be long before he joins her queue of suitors. But what Charlotte reads as an endearing shyness is in fact a disinclination to have anything to do with her and a strong discomfort with her obvious hero worship.
The sole survivor of a horrifying attack, Will Repton is a broken man, haunted by memories and dreams of the friends and colleagues he has lost and by his last sight of their camp, a grizzly, blood soaked nightmare of bodies and remains. He returned to England only because he was too ill to prevent his being sent home, and now all his focus is on raising enough money to enable him to return to China on another expedition. He desperately needs to exorcise his survivor’s guilt and to atone for the act he believes saved his life at the expense of the others of his party; and even though he finds himself strongly attracted to Charlotte, the last thing he wants or needs in his life is to form any sort of emotional attachment, let alone one to a woman who will no doubt want him to remain by her side.
Will is fascinating, a decent, honourable, self-deprecating man who has been devastated by circumstance, and the author explores his character and motivations in such a way as to make the reader experience his discomfort and the feeling that he is somehow ‘out of step’ with everyone around him. While he is at times unkind to Charlotte in his attempts to dispel her fantasies about him and to make clear his unwillingness to join her band of suitors, Ms Lord skilfully keeps him on the right side of the line between ‘hero’ and ‘arsehole’ by making the reader aware that his actions are well-intentioned and designed to stop Charlotte getting in too deep given his intent to leave England in the near future. She just as skilfully shows the reader the strength of Will’s reluctant, growing interest in Charlotte by the way in which he expresses his disdain for the suitor who can’t be bothered to learn her favourite flower, or how he always insists that the weather is about to turn for the worse when that suitor is taking her out for a drive.
As I mentioned at the outset, Charlotte is a difficult character to warm to. She is obviously more in love with the idea of Will than she can actually be with HIM, given that she hasn’t even met him before the story opens. It’s not until the second half of the book that she comes into clearer focus and becomes the sort of character one wishes to root for, and even then there were times I wanted to smack her. When circumstances lead to their having to make a hasty marriage, she decides to sacrifice her own happiness for the chance to be with Will, even for a short time, and this means being unfailingly cheerful and not letting him know of her deeper thoughts and feelings. But this only muddies the waters between them even further, hampering their attempts to understand each other and to be together happily for the few months they have agreed to. The misunderstandings and miscommunications between them in the latter part of the book are heartrending and even painful, making it difficult to see how they can possibly be resolved to give both characters the ending they deserve.
I’m certainly going to be giving the book a recommendation, although there are a few things that prevent my rating it more highly. There are some elements that are somewhat glossed over, such as Charlotte’s family dynamic and her brother’s trial; and I never quite understood why Charlotte believed that her family would once more be embraced by the ton simply because she had a famous husband. (They would have been flavour of the month for a while and then quickly forgotten, I imagine.) The romantic and sexual tension between the protagonists is very well written with some deliciously steamy moments between Charlotte and Will, but the climactic love scene towards the end happens almost out of the blue and goes completely against everything Will has said up until that point. There is also a secondary plot featuring one of Charlotte’s thwarted suitors which is overly melodramatic and which could have been omitted without any adverse effect on the main story.
But as I’ve said, this is a very strong début in spite of those weaknesses, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Susanne Lord’s work. In Search of Scandal is well-written, the characters are strongly drawn and the romance is well-developed, with advances and set-backs along the way that add depth to the relationship and strengthen the feeling of a growing emotional connection between the principals. It’s highly accomplished for a first novel, and has convinced me that Ms Lord is an author to watch.
In Search of Scandal, the first in a new series of historical romances by Susanne Lord is the author’s first novel, and a very strong début it is. She is clearly an excellent storyteller, having crafted a compelling and emotionally nuanced tale featuring a hero with an unusual background and a romance in which both protagonists have changes and reassessments to make if they are going to make things work between them.
On the downside, the heroine is rather irritating for the first part of the book, and her motivations are either unclear or simply don’t make sense; and there were a few times I felt that something needed fleshing out more or further exploration. But on the whole it’s a well-written and very readable story that will definitely appeal to readers who, like me, like their romances with a goodly-sized side-order of angst.
The plot turns on the rather complicated family situation of the heroine, Charlotte Baker. Her sister married an earl, and that, together with Charlotte’s vivacious beauty, ensured that she was much admired and courted by many gentlemen. But when the earl died and Lucy re-married (for love) an untitled botanist, that, and their origins as ‘commoners’ meant that the family was no longer accepted by the ton. While Ben and Lucy don’t appear to care all that much about it, Charlotte now sees it as her responsibility to make a good match so that the family can be elevated once more and so that she can ensure her younger sisters are accepted into society and have the chance to make good marriages. Further complicating matters is the fact that her brother Wallace was recently the subject of a sodomy trial, but this only makes her all the more determined to restore her family’s name and reputation.
One of her brother’s associates, William Repton, has recently returned to London after five years spent exploring and collecting plant specimens from Tibet and China. Charlotte has eagerly followed the written accounts of his expeditions published by the Geographical Society, and, over the years, has built an image in her mind of him as the perfect man – handsome, kind, daring and brave – and just the man for her. If she weds a man of such celebrity, she believes, every door will be open to her and her family, so not only will she have accomplished her aim in their regard, she will have secured herself the husband of her dreams.
Her first sight of Will Repton only reinforces her belief in the rightness of her scheme – he’s absolutely gorgeous (even though he walks with a pronounced limp) and although he seems quite shy, Charlotte is convinced he is “the one” and is sure it won’t be long before he joins her queue of suitors. But what Charlotte reads as an endearing shyness is in fact a disinclination to have anything to do with her and a strong discomfort with her obvious hero worship.
The sole survivor of a horrifying attack, Will Repton is a broken man, haunted by memories and dreams of the friends and colleagues he has lost and by his last sight of their camp, a grizzly, blood soaked nightmare of bodies and remains. He returned to England only because he was too ill to prevent his being sent home, and now all his focus is on raising enough money to enable him to return to China on another expedition. He desperately needs to exorcise his survivor’s guilt and to atone for the act he believes saved his life at the expense of the others of his party; and even though he finds himself strongly attracted to Charlotte, the last thing he wants or needs in his life is to form any sort of emotional attachment, let alone one to a woman who will no doubt want him to remain by her side.
Will is fascinating, a decent, honourable, self-deprecating man who has been devastated by circumstance, and the author explores his character and motivations in such a way as to make the reader experience his discomfort and the feeling that he is somehow ‘out of step’ with everyone around him. While he is at times unkind to Charlotte in his attempts to dispel her fantasies about him and to make clear his unwillingness to join her band of suitors, Ms Lord skilfully keeps him on the right side of the line between ‘hero’ and ‘arsehole’ by making the reader aware that his actions are well-intentioned and designed to stop Charlotte getting in too deep given his intent to leave England in the near future. She just as skilfully shows the reader the strength of Will’s reluctant, growing interest in Charlotte by the way in which he expresses his disdain for the suitor who can’t be bothered to learn her favourite flower, or how he always insists that the weather is about to turn for the worse when that suitor is taking her out for a drive.
As I mentioned at the outset, Charlotte is a difficult character to warm to. She is obviously more in love with the idea of Will than she can actually be with HIM, given that she hasn’t even met him before the story opens. It’s not until the second half of the book that she comes into clearer focus and becomes the sort of character one wishes to root for, and even then there were times I wanted to smack her. When circumstances lead to their having to make a hasty marriage, she decides to sacrifice her own happiness for the chance to be with Will, even for a short time, and this means being unfailingly cheerful and not letting him know of her deeper thoughts and feelings. But this only muddies the waters between them even further, hampering their attempts to understand each other and to be together happily for the few months they have agreed to. The misunderstandings and miscommunications between them in the latter part of the book are heartrending and even painful, making it difficult to see how they can possibly be resolved to give both characters the ending they deserve.
I’m certainly going to be giving the book a recommendation, although there are a few things that prevent my rating it more highly. There are some elements that are somewhat glossed over, such as Charlotte’s family dynamic and her brother’s trial; and I never quite understood why Charlotte believed that her family would once more be embraced by the ton simply because she had a famous husband. (They would have been flavour of the month for a while and then quickly forgotten, I imagine.) The romantic and sexual tension between the protagonists is very well written with some deliciously steamy moments between Charlotte and Will, but the climactic love scene towards the end happens almost out of the blue and goes completely against everything Will has said up until that point. There is also a secondary plot featuring one of Charlotte’s thwarted suitors which is overly melodramatic and which could have been omitted without any adverse effect on the main story.
But as I’ve said, this is a very strong début in spite of those weaknesses, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Susanne Lord’s work. In Search of Scandal is well-written, the characters are strongly drawn and the romance is well-developed, with advances and set-backs along the way that add depth to the relationship and strengthen the feeling of a growing emotional connection between the principals. It’s highly accomplished for a first novel, and has convinced me that Ms Lord is an author to watch.
December 11, 2015
In Search of Scandal is a delightful, charming, and sweet historical romance from debut author, Susanne Lord.
Will Repton is a plant collector and sole survivor of a massacre in Tibet. He returns to Victorian London viewed as a hero, but all he wants is to raise enough funds to make a return trip to investigate whether or not a baby girl survived the massacre that he barely escaped. Soliciting the help of his friend, Ben, Will runs into Ben’s sister-in-law, Charlotte Baker – quite possibly the most beautiful woman (and the chattiest) he’s ever met. For Charlotte, her meeting with Will is love at first sight. If only this dashing hero could see her as something other than a frivolous female, and if only he was planning on sticking around for longer than a few months. Happily, events conspire against them both.
Charlotte and Will are complete opposites. Will’s a scholarly dude who has absolutely no clue that Charlotte has set her sites on him or why she even would - he's a plant guy, not a lord.
Little does Will know, Charlotte is intent on marriage as soon as she sets sights on him.
Yes, Charlotte’s intentions towards Will are partially motivated by what he can do for her family (they are not well received among the ton). But, it’s all too clear that this is a very small part of what draws Charlotte to Will. From the start Charlotte sees Will as someone who is interesting; she is interested in his travels and the sights that he has seen. For Will’s part, he doesn’t really believe that Charlotte is actually interested in him – and I couldn’t have been more tickled by the fact that this hero is clueless. There’s more than rakes and rogues in romance land and it’s the incongruity between the hero and heroine that makes this a delightful read.
Complicating Charlotte and Will’s road to happily ever after is the fact that Will is leaving England, and even when he cannot possibly fail to notice that Charlotte is actually attracted to him, Will refuses to pursue something when he’s leaving the country. Honor and all that. Meanwhile, Charlotte does actually need and want to get married and she has no shortage of alternative suitors after Will refuses to come up to scratch. But, the more time Will spends with Charlotte the harder he finds it will be to leave her behind. Does Will really need to be the one that goes back to Tibet, especially at the cost of his own future happiness?
Well, I wont spoil the ending, but the journey to that happily ever after is sublime. The characters were well drawn and the writing was witting. Charlotte in particular is a hoot with her rambling thoughts and her flights of fancy. There is no question in my mind that I will be back for more fun this author – it’s just too much fun not to.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
Will Repton is a plant collector and sole survivor of a massacre in Tibet. He returns to Victorian London viewed as a hero, but all he wants is to raise enough funds to make a return trip to investigate whether or not a baby girl survived the massacre that he barely escaped. Soliciting the help of his friend, Ben, Will runs into Ben’s sister-in-law, Charlotte Baker – quite possibly the most beautiful woman (and the chattiest) he’s ever met. For Charlotte, her meeting with Will is love at first sight. If only this dashing hero could see her as something other than a frivolous female, and if only he was planning on sticking around for longer than a few months. Happily, events conspire against them both.
Charlotte and Will are complete opposites. Will’s a scholarly dude who has absolutely no clue that Charlotte has set her sites on him or why she even would - he's a plant guy, not a lord.
No sensible woman looked at him like that.
Perhaps there was something wrong with her (p.11)
Little does Will know, Charlotte is intent on marriage as soon as she sets sights on him.
But thank God. Thank God! Here he was! The man who could redeem the family name. The man she dreamed of. The man she was destined to marry – even if William Repton was not yet away of the fact (p. 11).
Yes, Charlotte’s intentions towards Will are partially motivated by what he can do for her family (they are not well received among the ton). But, it’s all too clear that this is a very small part of what draws Charlotte to Will. From the start Charlotte sees Will as someone who is interesting; she is interested in his travels and the sights that he has seen. For Will’s part, he doesn’t really believe that Charlotte is actually interested in him – and I couldn’t have been more tickled by the fact that this hero is clueless. There’s more than rakes and rogues in romance land and it’s the incongruity between the hero and heroine that makes this a delightful read.
Complicating Charlotte and Will’s road to happily ever after is the fact that Will is leaving England, and even when he cannot possibly fail to notice that Charlotte is actually attracted to him, Will refuses to pursue something when he’s leaving the country. Honor and all that. Meanwhile, Charlotte does actually need and want to get married and she has no shortage of alternative suitors after Will refuses to come up to scratch. But, the more time Will spends with Charlotte the harder he finds it will be to leave her behind. Does Will really need to be the one that goes back to Tibet, especially at the cost of his own future happiness?
Well, I wont spoil the ending, but the journey to that happily ever after is sublime. The characters were well drawn and the writing was witting. Charlotte in particular is a hoot with her rambling thoughts and her flights of fancy. There is no question in my mind that I will be back for more fun this author – it’s just too much fun not to.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
November 28, 2015
I am absolutely astounded that this was Susanne Lord's debut novel. It was utterly fantastic, and gets my vote for my favorite historical romance of the year.
The heroine in this first installment of the London Explorers series, Charlotte Baker, is not an explorer but she does have an adventurous spirit. She has been following the explorations and adventures of botanist Will Repton by reading his scientific papers, and she has pretty much fallen in love with him sight unseen. So when he shows up in her salon, handsome and shy, its like the man of her dreams has come to life. I cannot say enough good things about this heroine. She was so vivacious and good-natured that you could not help but love her. I had such a great connection with her character, even though I don't usually go for those bubbly naive heroines. Her romanticism of Will's adventures and their interactions were written in a way that resonated with that fanciful part of me that tends to daydream up situations in my head.
As for our hero, Will Repton, he was a broody and broken man after suffering a horrible tragedy on his last expedition through China. I was quite surprised that I liked his character so much as I don't usually go for the shy and bookish heroes... I tend to prefer the devilish dukes, rakes and riffraff. But Will was one of those perfectly imperfect heroes that you could empathize with on one hand, and call him a dunderhead on the other. He really was self-sacrificing when it came to Charlotte. I loved that he put her up on such a pedestal, even though most of the misunderstandings between the two could be attributed to Will's low self-esteem.
There were a few times when I felt like I was missing something - when discussing Wally and the Earl and Lucy's prior marriage. I had to check Goodreads a couple times to make sure I wasn't missing a prior book. But this was very minor in the overall scheme of things and it did not detract enough from the story to change my 5 star rating.
I can't put my finger on exactly why this story was so poignant for me, but it evoked lots of emotions and I found myself with a tear in my eye quite a few times. It's rare that modern historicals engender that emotional connection for me, so I was delighted when I felt it happening here. I was really pulling for Charlotte and Will throughout the story, and I was so proud that Charlotte was able to stay positive when things did not quite line up with her dream of a happy relationship. I think one of my favorite moments was When finally realized/believed that Charlotte loved him, even if he didn't think he deserved her devotion. Overall, this was just a beautiful story and I would recommend it to any historical romance fan.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am definitely adding Susanne Lord to my auto-buy list for her future works. 5 stars / 3 flames.
The heroine in this first installment of the London Explorers series, Charlotte Baker, is not an explorer but she does have an adventurous spirit. She has been following the explorations and adventures of botanist Will Repton by reading his scientific papers, and she has pretty much fallen in love with him sight unseen. So when he shows up in her salon, handsome and shy, its like the man of her dreams has come to life. I cannot say enough good things about this heroine. She was so vivacious and good-natured that you could not help but love her. I had such a great connection with her character, even though I don't usually go for those bubbly naive heroines. Her romanticism of Will's adventures and their interactions were written in a way that resonated with that fanciful part of me that tends to daydream up situations in my head.
As for our hero, Will Repton, he was a broody and broken man after suffering a horrible tragedy on his last expedition through China. I was quite surprised that I liked his character so much as I don't usually go for the shy and bookish heroes... I tend to prefer the devilish dukes, rakes and riffraff. But Will was one of those perfectly imperfect heroes that you could empathize with on one hand, and call him a dunderhead on the other. He really was self-sacrificing when it came to Charlotte. I loved that he put her up on such a pedestal, even though most of the misunderstandings between the two could be attributed to Will's low self-esteem.
There were a few times when I felt like I was missing something - when discussing Wally and the Earl and Lucy's prior marriage. I had to check Goodreads a couple times to make sure I wasn't missing a prior book. But this was very minor in the overall scheme of things and it did not detract enough from the story to change my 5 star rating.
I can't put my finger on exactly why this story was so poignant for me, but it evoked lots of emotions and I found myself with a tear in my eye quite a few times. It's rare that modern historicals engender that emotional connection for me, so I was delighted when I felt it happening here. I was really pulling for Charlotte and Will throughout the story, and I was so proud that Charlotte was able to stay positive when things did not quite line up with her dream of a happy relationship. I think one of my favorite moments was When finally realized/believed that Charlotte loved him, even if he didn't think he deserved her devotion. Overall, this was just a beautiful story and I would recommend it to any historical romance fan.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am definitely adding Susanne Lord to my auto-buy list for her future works. 5 stars / 3 flames.
January 7, 2016
My thoughts about In Search of Scandal are somewhat difficult to put into words. I enjoyed the book. There was definitely a romance that developed between the main characters William Repton and Charlotte Baker and I do feel that love became a foundation for Will to begin rebuilding his life after tragedy. Where I run into problems is that for a large portion of the story the actions of both Will and Charlotte towards one another are anything but loving.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
April 15, 2020
Hmmm, so much of this book was the hero confused about his feelings and the heroine being kind of annoying and I was so over it because more than half the book is him being an asshole and her loving him for no reason and like too much angst that really could have been avoided. I found the drama really dumb. The plot could have been better but also if the characters were more nuanced and less annoying and confused it would have improved things so much. Disappointed but the author is a really good writer and this was her first book so I have a lot of faith she’ll learn from her mistakes. In a few years I’ll probably come back to her and try her again...
December 9, 2015
Disclosure: I received this ARC via Netgalley. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Susanne Lord for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.
* * *
Will Repton is a well-known plant hunter, who has recently returned home from Tibet. All of England has proclaimed him a hero, for being the lone survivor of a massacre -- the accolade has allowed Will entry into society, but all he wants to do is return to Tibet, to confront his nightmares. Will is a seasoned traveler and planner, and he has already:
1. mapped out his trip back to Tibet
2. and planned for all contingencies.
He is determined to make things right by the people he had left behind. But Will does not count on meeting Charlotte Baker, the most beautiful and most intriguing woman Will has ever met in his entire life. While Will is determined to keep his attraction (and lust) under control, Charlotte is intent in her pursuit of Will -- if not for love, then for friendship.
The book begins a bit slowly, with the author establishing the characters and backstories -- it's very interesting to note that, it is Will, with his demons and nightmares, who has the simpler and less complicated past. Charlotte Baker has led quite an interesting life, for someone who has never left England. When she was 8 years old, her sister married an earl, and Charlotte's circumstances were instantly elevated. She has a substantial dowry and a lady's education -- but her brother's very public trial has speckled her reputation. Despite this, she is still very highly-sought after -- but she is in a curious position: not a lady, but not a plain miss either. She has a number of suitors, and it is to Charlotte's credit that she isn't dazzled by their titles or their flattery. In fact, Charlotte has a series of tests that she secretly administers to her suitors, and it has allowed her to separate the wheat from the chaff.
So far, only one suitor has passed most of the tests: Viscount Spencer, but, despite being the perfect suitor, Charlotte couldn't quite convince herself to accept the Viscount's proposal. It all finally made sense to Charlotte when Will Repton entered the picture. Will isn't really husband material -- and Will knows this. And he tries to convince Charlotte of this. But there's a connection between the two of them that is undeniable.
There is a hyper-awareness of societal hierarchy in this story -- Will doesn't think he is worthy of Charlotte, whom he considers a lady.
This is one of two obstacles that Will needs to overcome. He continues to be haunted by what happened to him in Tibet, and feels he could not move forward unless he returns to Tibet and find Aimee. And Charlotte knows she must make a good marriage if she is to maintain her reputation and protect her family's standing in society. With her brother's very open secret, Charlotte knows that she has a responsibility to abide by society's rules. She knows she must do this for the sake of her sister's family. But there's a part of her that is drawn to Will -- drawn to the danger that Will represents. Drawn to the adventure that Will represents. Will and Charlotte have an unusual courtship -- with Charlotte expressing her love very honestly and openly to Will. It's a bit disconcerting to have Charlotte offer her love, and to have Will reject it several times.
I was initially annoyed with how badly Will was behaving towards Charlotte, but I realized that it was partly an act (to what extent was it pretend is subject to further reflection) to get Charlotte to stop with her infatuation of him. He was trying to show the extreme negative aspect of him because he didn't think he deserved her hero worship. He didn't think he deserved her. For the longest time, I couldn't understand what was holding Will back -- the author didn't really delve too deeply into Will's nightmares -- but, when it was all eventually fleshed out, I understood Will's motivations better.
What I wish was developed more was Will's interest in flowers -- and how that interest transferred to Charlotte, who is, based on the descriptions about her, a very rare lady. I loved the part where Will gave Charlotte flowers, and when he talked about flowers in relation to Charlotte. ^_^
The story is slow to build an emotional momentum, but the author hits her groove in the middle part -- and that's when I started to really feel my heart tugging for the characters and their private torments. Susanne Lord does a good job of hinting at the other "London Explorers" that, I hope, she features in the next books in this series. George Mayhew is particularly intriguing. ^_^
Overall, this was a solid start for a new series, and a great debut book from a new author. Looking forward to reading more from Susanne Lord. ^_^
In Search of Scandal is Susanne Lord's debut novel and the first book in her London Explorers series. It was released on December 1, 2015.
* * *
Will Repton is a well-known plant hunter, who has recently returned home from Tibet. All of England has proclaimed him a hero, for being the lone survivor of a massacre -- the accolade has allowed Will entry into society, but all he wants to do is return to Tibet, to confront his nightmares. Will is a seasoned traveler and planner, and he has already:
1. mapped out his trip back to Tibet
2. and planned for all contingencies.
He is determined to make things right by the people he had left behind. But Will does not count on meeting Charlotte Baker, the most beautiful and most intriguing woman Will has ever met in his entire life. While Will is determined to keep his attraction (and lust) under control, Charlotte is intent in her pursuit of Will -- if not for love, then for friendship.
The book begins a bit slowly, with the author establishing the characters and backstories -- it's very interesting to note that, it is Will, with his demons and nightmares, who has the simpler and less complicated past. Charlotte Baker has led quite an interesting life, for someone who has never left England. When she was 8 years old, her sister married an earl, and Charlotte's circumstances were instantly elevated. She has a substantial dowry and a lady's education -- but her brother's very public trial has speckled her reputation. Despite this, she is still very highly-sought after -- but she is in a curious position: not a lady, but not a plain miss either. She has a number of suitors, and it is to Charlotte's credit that she isn't dazzled by their titles or their flattery. In fact, Charlotte has a series of tests that she secretly administers to her suitors, and it has allowed her to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Charlotte's heart sank further as her brother strode into the room. Wally was a secret husband test all her own. And the most important.
...
... This cool treatment was hardly unusual. Wally was inured to the unease of men and their insults.
But she was not. In the silence, her heart hardened in an all too familiar way. No gentlemen passed this test.
- loc 373
So far, only one suitor has passed most of the tests: Viscount Spencer, but, despite being the perfect suitor, Charlotte couldn't quite convince herself to accept the Viscount's proposal. It all finally made sense to Charlotte when Will Repton entered the picture. Will isn't really husband material -- and Will knows this. And he tries to convince Charlotte of this. But there's a connection between the two of them that is undeniable.
There is a hyper-awareness of societal hierarchy in this story -- Will doesn't think he is worthy of Charlotte, whom he considers a lady.
"I don't know Lord Spencer. Is he deserving of you, then?"
"Deserving of me?" Charlotte leaned on her arm to speak close, granting him a breathtaking view of her breasts. "He is far above me in rank and consequence. You mustn't say such things aloud this evening, Mr. Repton, and presume upon the good graces of our betters."
- loc 868 - 879
This is one of two obstacles that Will needs to overcome. He continues to be haunted by what happened to him in Tibet, and feels he could not move forward unless he returns to Tibet and find Aimee. And Charlotte knows she must make a good marriage if she is to maintain her reputation and protect her family's standing in society. With her brother's very open secret, Charlotte knows that she has a responsibility to abide by society's rules. She knows she must do this for the sake of her sister's family. But there's a part of her that is drawn to Will -- drawn to the danger that Will represents. Drawn to the adventure that Will represents. Will and Charlotte have an unusual courtship -- with Charlotte expressing her love very honestly and openly to Will. It's a bit disconcerting to have Charlotte offer her love, and to have Will reject it several times.
I was initially annoyed with how badly Will was behaving towards Charlotte, but I realized that it was partly an act (to what extent was it pretend is subject to further reflection) to get Charlotte to stop with her infatuation of him. He was trying to show the extreme negative aspect of him because he didn't think he deserved her hero worship. He didn't think he deserved her. For the longest time, I couldn't understand what was holding Will back -- the author didn't really delve too deeply into Will's nightmares -- but, when it was all eventually fleshed out, I understood Will's motivations better.
What I wish was developed more was Will's interest in flowers -- and how that interest transferred to Charlotte, who is, based on the descriptions about her, a very rare lady. I loved the part where Will gave Charlotte flowers, and when he talked about flowers in relation to Charlotte. ^_^
"Why hasn't he?" Mr. Repton set his glass down hard on the mantel.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Spencer. Why hasn't he learned your favorite flowers?"
"Well ..."
"He brings you tulips and roses and carnations. Never snowdrops or narcissus or lily of the valley, not that those are your favorites. Neither is jasmine, but I thought you'd like how the perfume changes at night. Never once have I seen him bring you peonies."
She could only stare back.
"White peonies, right?" He considered her, his voice gentling. "No -- cream. With a pink blush at its heart, marked by stripes of raspberry and a tangle of gold stamens within, revealed only in bloom." He blinked and diverted his stare. "That is your favorite, I think."
- loc 803-814
The story is slow to build an emotional momentum, but the author hits her groove in the middle part -- and that's when I started to really feel my heart tugging for the characters and their private torments. Susanne Lord does a good job of hinting at the other "London Explorers" that, I hope, she features in the next books in this series. George Mayhew is particularly intriguing. ^_^
Overall, this was a solid start for a new series, and a great debut book from a new author. Looking forward to reading more from Susanne Lord. ^_^
In Search of Scandal is Susanne Lord's debut novel and the first book in her London Explorers series. It was released on December 1, 2015.
October 2, 2016
1.25 stars! I'm finished! Finally and this is the worst historical romance book I've ever read. Review to come.
December 1, 2015
The romance in this book is tortured and tormented, which can sometimes be a very good thing. For me, though, I just kept wondering why these two people were doing such horrible things to each other, all in the name of love, and why no one was stopping them.
Charlotte is a dreamer and wildly imaginative. Despite being twenty-two, the moment she sets eyes on Will – actually, it’s the moment she hears his name – she decides she is wildly in love with him and he will be the man she will marry. Regardless of the fact that the man is doing everything he can to get away from her. That’s the problem with Charlotte, she is completely buoyant and unsquashable. She really does only see what she wants to see, while willing with all her might for what she wants to happen. She’s also surprisingly naive and unwordly for a woman with such a scandalous family and such rumoured intelligence.
I had a few problems with Charlotte’s love for Will, not least because she knows absolutely nothing about him except what she’s imagined when she falls for him. Everything that she admires about him, she wants to change. In her mind he’s an intrepid explorer, travelling the world and distant places because that’s what he loves and wants to do. Well, she loves him now so he has to stay home. She also wants to change the way he dresses, believes he needs a valet and even wants to change the way he does his hair!
She doesn’t love Will at all, she just wants to mould him into her preferred image while she uses his fame to help her notorious family. Not once in this whole book does she ever think about making Will happy – it’s all about how she loves him. She pushes and she picks and she makes him absolutely miserable. True, she also makes herself miserable in the process, but that was less of a consolation than I might have expected.
As for Will… the man is too messed up for a relationship. He knows that and he would have left well alone, except Charlotte keeps picking at him. He’s rude to her, he ignores her, he does everything to reject her, but she pays no attention. Until his protective instincts are roused and then he becomes just as bad as she is. Their relationship becomes based on mutual obsession that doesn’t have a lot to do with the other person – Charlotte’s is all to do with her image of Will, while Will wants to keep her safe, safe, safe – and to be honest the whole thing is completely unhealthy. Charlotte has a lot of trouble respecting Will’s physical boundaries, and then there’s one scene where Will comes close to crossing a major line. I didn’t find it romantic, I found the whole thing troubling.
Add in the prospective-fiancé peer who turns out to be a horrible person, Will’s quest to return to the scene of his nightmares, and a damned magic fix that really irritated me, and I guess I didn’t enjoy this as much as everyone else seems to. Which is a shame, because it is well written and potentially enjoyable, I just didn’t feel like these two people should be allowed near each other, let alone get married. And the ending was too neat and perfect for me, considering all that had gone before. There were times when I almost stopped reading because the urge to shout at Charlotte to leave the poor man alone were so strong. I stuck with it, though, and although it left me a bit perplexed, I’m intrigued enough to want to read the next one. I just hope those involved are a little less… extreme in their romantic intentions.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Charlotte is a dreamer and wildly imaginative. Despite being twenty-two, the moment she sets eyes on Will – actually, it’s the moment she hears his name – she decides she is wildly in love with him and he will be the man she will marry. Regardless of the fact that the man is doing everything he can to get away from her. That’s the problem with Charlotte, she is completely buoyant and unsquashable. She really does only see what she wants to see, while willing with all her might for what she wants to happen. She’s also surprisingly naive and unwordly for a woman with such a scandalous family and such rumoured intelligence.
I had a few problems with Charlotte’s love for Will, not least because she knows absolutely nothing about him except what she’s imagined when she falls for him. Everything that she admires about him, she wants to change. In her mind he’s an intrepid explorer, travelling the world and distant places because that’s what he loves and wants to do. Well, she loves him now so he has to stay home. She also wants to change the way he dresses, believes he needs a valet and even wants to change the way he does his hair!
She doesn’t love Will at all, she just wants to mould him into her preferred image while she uses his fame to help her notorious family. Not once in this whole book does she ever think about making Will happy – it’s all about how she loves him. She pushes and she picks and she makes him absolutely miserable. True, she also makes herself miserable in the process, but that was less of a consolation than I might have expected.
As for Will… the man is too messed up for a relationship. He knows that and he would have left well alone, except Charlotte keeps picking at him. He’s rude to her, he ignores her, he does everything to reject her, but she pays no attention. Until his protective instincts are roused and then he becomes just as bad as she is. Their relationship becomes based on mutual obsession that doesn’t have a lot to do with the other person – Charlotte’s is all to do with her image of Will, while Will wants to keep her safe, safe, safe – and to be honest the whole thing is completely unhealthy. Charlotte has a lot of trouble respecting Will’s physical boundaries, and then there’s one scene where Will comes close to crossing a major line. I didn’t find it romantic, I found the whole thing troubling.
Add in the prospective-fiancé peer who turns out to be a horrible person, Will’s quest to return to the scene of his nightmares, and a damned magic fix that really irritated me, and I guess I didn’t enjoy this as much as everyone else seems to. Which is a shame, because it is well written and potentially enjoyable, I just didn’t feel like these two people should be allowed near each other, let alone get married. And the ending was too neat and perfect for me, considering all that had gone before. There were times when I almost stopped reading because the urge to shout at Charlotte to leave the poor man alone were so strong. I stuck with it, though, and although it left me a bit perplexed, I’m intrigued enough to want to read the next one. I just hope those involved are a little less… extreme in their romantic intentions.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
December 13, 2015
Originally reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
Susanne Lord’s captivating debut novel, In Search of Scandal will have you believing that she is an old hand at writing amazing Historical Romance. And convince you that since this is her first – what wonders we have to look forward to in her next stories. I don’t normally go all fangirl over an author’s debut novel. Yet this story could have been told by a writer who has been doing this for years into her writing career and I wouldn’t have been surprised. What I am is delighted to be able to have experienced Ms Lord’s beginning so that I can continue to follow her stories from the very first release. I’m convinced that there will be more charming, engaging stories beyond this series. I personally believe her talent is that good.
Will is now a man on a mission, and a very different man than had set sail on this particular expedition so many months ago. While Will has always been more bookish than dashing, being the lone survivor of a massacre has given him a reputation that he is rather uncomfortable with. He desperately needs to go back to that area, and he will allow nothing or no one to interfere with that decision.
Charlotte is not exactly a woman of her times. In many ways she still holds on to the the naivety of her youth and upbringing. On the other she has experienced so much more of the harshness of life than many of the young woman in her circles. She has followed the exploits and discoveries of Will and and she is perhaps a bit in love with him from afar. When they finally meet she is convinced that they are meant to be together and will do everything in her power to convince Will of that fact.
Will does not deny his attraction to Charlotte, but his decision to head out on another expedition is the height of danger for anyone involved. Since he cannot turn away from his decision he is trying his best to dissuade Charlotte’s determination that they are a perfect match. Charlotte must marry for many reasons that ensure she will take a wealthy, well established husband and soon. She wants that man to be Will, but if he truly will not budge on his decision then she must look elsewhere.
In Search Of Scandal is a story that will grab your attention and not let go until the final page. The characters, both main and secondary, are truly believable and realistic… many you might recognize from your own neighborhood. There is a comfort with the characters, as if I’ve known them for a very long time that isn’t easy to explain, it’s more of a feeling, a reaction to the characters and their personalities.
I would highly recommend In Search of Scandal for any reader who loves a good romance no matter the time period. If you maintain a To Be Read pile I hope that you move this story to the top of that list not only for your enjoyment but to be ready for the second novel in this series that releases later in 2016.
Take a risk on a new to you author’s debut novel. I do not believe you will regret it – at all.
*I received an e-ARC of In Search of Scandal from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
Susanne Lord’s captivating debut novel, In Search of Scandal will have you believing that she is an old hand at writing amazing Historical Romance. And convince you that since this is her first – what wonders we have to look forward to in her next stories. I don’t normally go all fangirl over an author’s debut novel. Yet this story could have been told by a writer who has been doing this for years into her writing career and I wouldn’t have been surprised. What I am is delighted to be able to have experienced Ms Lord’s beginning so that I can continue to follow her stories from the very first release. I’m convinced that there will be more charming, engaging stories beyond this series. I personally believe her talent is that good.
Will is now a man on a mission, and a very different man than had set sail on this particular expedition so many months ago. While Will has always been more bookish than dashing, being the lone survivor of a massacre has given him a reputation that he is rather uncomfortable with. He desperately needs to go back to that area, and he will allow nothing or no one to interfere with that decision.
Charlotte is not exactly a woman of her times. In many ways she still holds on to the the naivety of her youth and upbringing. On the other she has experienced so much more of the harshness of life than many of the young woman in her circles. She has followed the exploits and discoveries of Will and and she is perhaps a bit in love with him from afar. When they finally meet she is convinced that they are meant to be together and will do everything in her power to convince Will of that fact.
Will does not deny his attraction to Charlotte, but his decision to head out on another expedition is the height of danger for anyone involved. Since he cannot turn away from his decision he is trying his best to dissuade Charlotte’s determination that they are a perfect match. Charlotte must marry for many reasons that ensure she will take a wealthy, well established husband and soon. She wants that man to be Will, but if he truly will not budge on his decision then she must look elsewhere.
In Search Of Scandal is a story that will grab your attention and not let go until the final page. The characters, both main and secondary, are truly believable and realistic… many you might recognize from your own neighborhood. There is a comfort with the characters, as if I’ve known them for a very long time that isn’t easy to explain, it’s more of a feeling, a reaction to the characters and their personalities.
I would highly recommend In Search of Scandal for any reader who loves a good romance no matter the time period. If you maintain a To Be Read pile I hope that you move this story to the top of that list not only for your enjoyment but to be ready for the second novel in this series that releases later in 2016.
Take a risk on a new to you author’s debut novel. I do not believe you will regret it – at all.
*I received an e-ARC of In Search of Scandal from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
December 2, 2015
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
I generally like books set in regency England, I find it to be an interesting time period. I thought the author did a good job of bringing this time period to life in this book. I appreciated the attention to details like etiquette, fashion, physical locations, and language appropriate to the time period. I also found it to be a nice balance where those time period details did a good job accenting the story and establishing historical context without taking over the book.
The characters are unique individuals, and in particular I like how Charlotte handles herself. There is, however, a maddening lack of communication, especially on Will's part. It is a believable and realistic relationship challenge but I had a hard time accepting that two obviously intelligent individuals couldn't reasonably deduct that just getting everything out in the open would make life easier for both of them, and it carried on far longer than I feel it should have.
The story itself is focused mainly on their relationship, and this is where the massive communication problem really becomes a hindrance. There is a turning point in the book where the characters make a breakthrough and a potentially interesting new story arc comes into play, but it ends up being kind of smothered by the annoying communication problem. This is really why I took a star off, because if their external challenges had been given more play the second half of the book could have been so much better.
Overall, this book does a really good job of bringing the reader along on Will and Charlotte's relationship journey and that is really the focus of this book. It makes for a good character study and gives the reader an intimate look at the thoughts and feelings of the characters, and there is definitely character growth as well. There aren't a lot of sexual scenes, though the scenes are well written, and all of the sexual scenes are there for a reason. If you enjoy a lot of gratuitous sex in your romance novels this is probably not the book for you. If, however, you enjoy character studies and/or relationship driven books I would recommend it. Though this book is not without flaw, at least from my perspective, it is a good book and I did enjoy it.
I generally like books set in regency England, I find it to be an interesting time period. I thought the author did a good job of bringing this time period to life in this book. I appreciated the attention to details like etiquette, fashion, physical locations, and language appropriate to the time period. I also found it to be a nice balance where those time period details did a good job accenting the story and establishing historical context without taking over the book.
The characters are unique individuals, and in particular I like how Charlotte handles herself. There is, however, a maddening lack of communication, especially on Will's part. It is a believable and realistic relationship challenge but I had a hard time accepting that two obviously intelligent individuals couldn't reasonably deduct that just getting everything out in the open would make life easier for both of them, and it carried on far longer than I feel it should have.
The story itself is focused mainly on their relationship, and this is where the massive communication problem really becomes a hindrance. There is a turning point in the book where the characters make a breakthrough and a potentially interesting new story arc comes into play, but it ends up being kind of smothered by the annoying communication problem. This is really why I took a star off, because if their external challenges had been given more play the second half of the book could have been so much better.
Overall, this book does a really good job of bringing the reader along on Will and Charlotte's relationship journey and that is really the focus of this book. It makes for a good character study and gives the reader an intimate look at the thoughts and feelings of the characters, and there is definitely character growth as well. There aren't a lot of sexual scenes, though the scenes are well written, and all of the sexual scenes are there for a reason. If you enjoy a lot of gratuitous sex in your romance novels this is probably not the book for you. If, however, you enjoy character studies and/or relationship driven books I would recommend it. Though this book is not without flaw, at least from my perspective, it is a good book and I did enjoy it.
September 25, 2021
ARC provided by netgalley.
I absolutely loved Will's and Charlotte's story. It was painful and funny and romantic.
Will came home the sole survivor of an expedition in Tibet. It was painful to read about him at times, my heart ached for him.
Charlotte was looking for a husband to help her family get back into the good graces of society after her brother's scandal.
She has always been a fan of " China Will", and when Will was mistakenly lead into her parlor instead of Ben's study we get to see the start of Will and Charlotte.
For Charlotte it was love at first sight. She knew Will was her soulmate.
My heart ached and rejoiced with these two characters. If you are a fan of historical romance this is a must read.
Favorite quotes
I absolutely loved Will's and Charlotte's story. It was painful and funny and romantic.
Will came home the sole survivor of an expedition in Tibet. It was painful to read about him at times, my heart ached for him.
Charlotte was looking for a husband to help her family get back into the good graces of society after her brother's scandal.
She has always been a fan of " China Will", and when Will was mistakenly lead into her parlor instead of Ben's study we get to see the start of Will and Charlotte.
For Charlotte it was love at first sight. She knew Will was her soulmate.
My heart ached and rejoiced with these two characters. If you are a fan of historical romance this is a must read.
Favorite quotes
December 1, 2015
Touching and enthralling!
A roller coaster read that pulls at the heart strings. The raw emotions, the dark secrets that Will Repton fights tug at you as you realize his life has been put on hold, arrested by the dreadful things he has scene. Witness to the slaughter of all his companions in Tibet, Will Repton cannot rid his mind of the events, nor his determination to search for a possible sole survivor. Harbinger of secrets, he reveals to no one his troubled quest. He quietly goes about making plans to return to the area to investigate possibilities wrapped up in the excuse to hunt for more exotic species.
Charlotte Baker is enamoured of Will before she meets him. She has closely followed his work over many years and is delighted to at last meet her hero. A dazzling beauty, she cares little for her appearance. Charlottes convinced that meeting Will will be a marvellous adventure. Little does she guess that though her expectations are not met in many ways, in others she has found her destiny. Charlotte is whimsical and forthright, a breathe of fresh air blowing through the social arena of the time. She is in awe of Will the adventurer and it's only as she comes to know him that she realizes that something is amiss. Sparks often fly in their encounters. Yet their encounters are honest and true. Unfortunately Will has plans that don't include Charlotte, plans to placate his devastated conscience, plans that call for no involvements, least of all a wife. And yet he cannot help but be concerned for Charlotte and troubled by her Lordly courtier.
Charlotte is a positive person and her encounters with Will trouble her as she tries to understand what motivates him. They are drawn to each other, unwitting lodestones of attraction. Can trust and love be accommodated? Is Will able to quell his demons and take up the challenge of a life with Charlotte. The tension is drawn page after page in their advancements and retreats as they struggle to find answers.
A touching and captivating read, that refused to let me go.
A NetGalley ARC
A roller coaster read that pulls at the heart strings. The raw emotions, the dark secrets that Will Repton fights tug at you as you realize his life has been put on hold, arrested by the dreadful things he has scene. Witness to the slaughter of all his companions in Tibet, Will Repton cannot rid his mind of the events, nor his determination to search for a possible sole survivor. Harbinger of secrets, he reveals to no one his troubled quest. He quietly goes about making plans to return to the area to investigate possibilities wrapped up in the excuse to hunt for more exotic species.
Charlotte Baker is enamoured of Will before she meets him. She has closely followed his work over many years and is delighted to at last meet her hero. A dazzling beauty, she cares little for her appearance. Charlottes convinced that meeting Will will be a marvellous adventure. Little does she guess that though her expectations are not met in many ways, in others she has found her destiny. Charlotte is whimsical and forthright, a breathe of fresh air blowing through the social arena of the time. She is in awe of Will the adventurer and it's only as she comes to know him that she realizes that something is amiss. Sparks often fly in their encounters. Yet their encounters are honest and true. Unfortunately Will has plans that don't include Charlotte, plans to placate his devastated conscience, plans that call for no involvements, least of all a wife. And yet he cannot help but be concerned for Charlotte and troubled by her Lordly courtier.
Charlotte is a positive person and her encounters with Will trouble her as she tries to understand what motivates him. They are drawn to each other, unwitting lodestones of attraction. Can trust and love be accommodated? Is Will able to quell his demons and take up the challenge of a life with Charlotte. The tension is drawn page after page in their advancements and retreats as they struggle to find answers.
A touching and captivating read, that refused to let me go.
A NetGalley ARC
December 26, 2015
Exploration in the 1850’s is a hazardous undertaking. Botanist Will “Chinese Will” Repton was the sole survivor of his expedition to Tibet – his team and the French missionaries who sheltered them were slaughtered, and Will was badly injured, physically and psychologically. He is haunted by the missionaries’ missing infant who, he was certain, survived the bloodshed.
Will is returned to England to recover and to raise funds for a rescue expedition. He meets the incomparable Charlotte Baker, sister-in-law of one of Will’s colleagues and supporters. Charlotte is gorgeous, vivacious, and the object of desire of many of London’s eligible bachelors. A successful marriage for Charlotte could elevate and restore her entire family. Fortunately or unfortunately, Charlotte falls for Will and creates a relentless enemy in Viscount Spencer.
At a house party at Windmere, Derbyshire, Charlotte’s family home in the country, Viscount Spencer assaults her in the woods. Will rescues her, but the Viscount steals the lantern and abandons them on the perilous hillside in the dark. Trapped until dawn, Charlotte is compromised into a scandalous marriage. The Viscount does not take being thwarted gracefully.
Both Will and Charlotte are strong characters with a nice supporting cast. It’s refreshing to have the romantic leads just outside the ton, near but not in high society. There is enough drama and suspense in the relationship; the ‘to be annulled’ marriage stretches believability.
Readers who enjoy Mary Balogh, Lorraine Heath, Grace Burrowes and Stephanie Laurens should like In Search of Scandal.
Appeal factors: Leisurely paced; well-developed, likable characters; character-driven story line; engaging style; suspenseful, upbeat, mildly sensuous; London & Windmere, Derbyshire, England 1850.
In Search of Scandal is first in the series London Explorers.
Disclaimer: advance copy provided by the publisher.
Will is returned to England to recover and to raise funds for a rescue expedition. He meets the incomparable Charlotte Baker, sister-in-law of one of Will’s colleagues and supporters. Charlotte is gorgeous, vivacious, and the object of desire of many of London’s eligible bachelors. A successful marriage for Charlotte could elevate and restore her entire family. Fortunately or unfortunately, Charlotte falls for Will and creates a relentless enemy in Viscount Spencer.
At a house party at Windmere, Derbyshire, Charlotte’s family home in the country, Viscount Spencer assaults her in the woods. Will rescues her, but the Viscount steals the lantern and abandons them on the perilous hillside in the dark. Trapped until dawn, Charlotte is compromised into a scandalous marriage. The Viscount does not take being thwarted gracefully.
Both Will and Charlotte are strong characters with a nice supporting cast. It’s refreshing to have the romantic leads just outside the ton, near but not in high society. There is enough drama and suspense in the relationship; the ‘to be annulled’ marriage stretches believability.
Readers who enjoy Mary Balogh, Lorraine Heath, Grace Burrowes and Stephanie Laurens should like In Search of Scandal.
Appeal factors: Leisurely paced; well-developed, likable characters; character-driven story line; engaging style; suspenseful, upbeat, mildly sensuous; London & Windmere, Derbyshire, England 1850.
In Search of Scandal is first in the series London Explorers.
Disclaimer: advance copy provided by the publisher.
March 22, 2016
I loved this story! The talkative Charlotte wants to marry someone who will help her family get back in Society, after a scandal involving her sister's first marriage. She's a very curious person and likes to read about the Geographical Society "plant hunters" who are explorers who travel the world, bringing back plants for further study, mostly because her brother-in-law also works with botanists. Her favorite explorer is "Chinese Will" - William Repton - who has just returned from 5 years in China and India. When Charlotte meets the brooding, quiet Will, she knows instantly he is the man of her dreams.
Will Repton is still recovering from a tragedy that happened on his latest expedition and doesn't have time for chatty society misses. But something about Charlotte intrigues him and he finds himself helplessly fascinated by her.
I just loved Will and Charlotte's interactions. She just says whatever comes into her head and he needs to think before he speaks - which means he normally doesn't speak at all because he's not sure what to say to a force of nature like Charlotte.
There were also two surprises at the very end, one that was hoped for and another that just shocked me to my toes! Now I need to read the next book in the series to find out what's going on.
Also, I was very intrigued by Ben and Lucy and Wally, Charlotte's family. I felt a bit like I was missing an earlier story somehow about Lucy's first marriage and how she meet Ben. Maybe it will be a future novella?
Will Repton is still recovering from a tragedy that happened on his latest expedition and doesn't have time for chatty society misses. But something about Charlotte intrigues him and he finds himself helplessly fascinated by her.
I just loved Will and Charlotte's interactions. She just says whatever comes into her head and he needs to think before he speaks - which means he normally doesn't speak at all because he's not sure what to say to a force of nature like Charlotte.
There were also two surprises at the very end, one that was hoped for and another that just shocked me to my toes! Now I need to read the next book in the series to find out what's going on.
Also, I was very intrigued by Ben and Lucy and Wally, Charlotte's family. I felt a bit like I was missing an earlier story somehow about Lucy's first marriage and how she meet Ben. Maybe it will be a future novella?
January 28, 2016
Susanne Lord is a new author for me, and I only found her because of a couple of positive reviews that mentioned an emotional, slightly angsty read. I'm all about a little of the heartrending before the HEA, and it was on the shelf at my library, so I took it home. And I consider myself a satisfied customer!
The characters were skirting Big Misunderstanding territory, but somehow it managed to be more than just a frustrating eyeroll moment for me. This is maybe because they did communicate with each other. This wasn't a circumstance where one person was acting on assumptions and refusing to verify those assumptions. Instead, they both communicated to each other in the beginning things that they believed to be true. Charlotte communicated that she wanted a socially advantageous marriage (which Will assumed meant marriage to an aristocrat). Will communicated that he would be returning to China (which Charlotte assumed meant he was devoted to an explorer's lifestyle). They were both acting on actual information, they were just acting on incomplete information. And I think that's the difference. They talked to each other, they just filtered everything through incorrect assumptions. And it worked for me! Plus, there was a truly hateable villain and some real emotional trauma to get past. Always a plus.
This wasn't quite enough to make it onto my auto-read shelf with Sarah MacLean and Victoria Dahl, and lately Kerrigan Byrne, but if she continues down this path we might end up there yet.
The characters were skirting Big Misunderstanding territory, but somehow it managed to be more than just a frustrating eyeroll moment for me. This is maybe because they did communicate with each other. This wasn't a circumstance where one person was acting on assumptions and refusing to verify those assumptions. Instead, they both communicated to each other in the beginning things that they believed to be true. Charlotte communicated that she wanted a socially advantageous marriage (which Will assumed meant marriage to an aristocrat). Will communicated that he would be returning to China (which Charlotte assumed meant he was devoted to an explorer's lifestyle). They were both acting on actual information, they were just acting on incomplete information. And I think that's the difference. They talked to each other, they just filtered everything through incorrect assumptions. And it worked for me! Plus, there was a truly hateable villain and some real emotional trauma to get past. Always a plus.
This wasn't quite enough to make it onto my auto-read shelf with Sarah MacLean and Victoria Dahl, and lately Kerrigan Byrne, but if she continues down this path we might end up there yet.
April 19, 2016
More of a 3.5-star.
The good:
- The author's writing style, which was nice.
- The tortured hero, who had been through a hellish experience in China and returned to England with physical and emotional wounds. (I kept thinking about how good it would've been for Laura Kinsale to get her hands on him. It always comes back to Kinsale for me!)
- The latter part of the hero and heroine's romance, which was genuinely romantic, angsty, and touching.
- The heroine's family members, including her gay brother, who was left a social outcast after going through a sodomy trial. An unusual situation to include in a historical romance.
- The last two lines of the epilogue - tears!
The not-as-good:
- The heroine was annoying at first, and her motivations were sometimes unclear. She grew on me as the story went along, but I wasn't too interested in her at first.
- Although I liked finding out about the heroine's family members, they weren't as fleshed out as they could've been.
- The villain was a total mustache-twirling baddie, and his dastardly actions at the very end of the story felt over-the-top and too melodramatic.
Overall though, this was an enjoyable book that has me looking forward to reading more from this author.
The good:
- The author's writing style, which was nice.
- The tortured hero, who had been through a hellish experience in China and returned to England with physical and emotional wounds. (I kept thinking about how good it would've been for Laura Kinsale to get her hands on him. It always comes back to Kinsale for me!)
- The latter part of the hero and heroine's romance, which was genuinely romantic, angsty, and touching.
- The heroine's family members, including her gay brother, who was left a social outcast after going through a sodomy trial. An unusual situation to include in a historical romance.
- The last two lines of the epilogue - tears!
The not-as-good:
- The heroine was annoying at first, and her motivations were sometimes unclear. She grew on me as the story went along, but I wasn't too interested in her at first.
- Although I liked finding out about the heroine's family members, they weren't as fleshed out as they could've been.
- The villain was a total mustache-twirling baddie, and his dastardly actions at the very end of the story felt over-the-top and too melodramatic.
Overall though, this was an enjoyable book that has me looking forward to reading more from this author.
November 5, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a very well written story. I liked that there wasn't too much of anything, like interference or misunderstandings, in Will and Charlottes relationship. I liked the story of the family, and Wills issues. It was very interesting and I especially loved the ending. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a nice relaxing love story.I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a very well written story. I liked that there wasn't too much of anything, like interference or misunderstandings, in Will and Charlottes relationship. I liked the story of the family, and Wills issues. It was very interesting and I especially loved the ending. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a nice relaxing love story.
November 29, 2015
With the heart of a warrior and the spirit of an adventurer Will Repton has faced calamities others can only imagine. When his last one ended tragically with him the sole survivor he returned home to a hero's welcome with a heavy heart. I received an ARC of In Search of Scandal in exchange for an honest review. Susanne Lord does a beautiful job in presenting a man questioning his value. Will came home a changed man. His physical limitations and awareness of his surroundings are more pronounced. He may be home but he feels like the odd man out. He and Charlotte were magic together. She opens his eyes to the fact that in life everyday is a new experience and no matter where you end up someone always has your back. This was a serious story that was laid out with sensational skill and characters that are entrancing.
Read
November 18, 2015DNFed almost halfway through. Started out very strong because the hero is an awkward shy type, and the heroine lusts for him right away. But at one point the cheesy historical romance become overkill. Heroine goes off with rich suitor, who she rejects. He tries to rape her, and the hero comes along and saves her. They're lost in the woods and it's raining. They end up at some shack, and one things leads to another and the heroine's reputation is ruined so the hero has to marry the heroine even though they act like it's the worst thing ever for both (but they lust for one another so much).
Bah.
Bah.
January 27, 2016
I really enjoyed this one. The heroine isn't the sharpest tool in the toolbox but she more than makes up for it with the effervescent joy with which she lives her life. I liked her obsession with the hero - although at points while he was being an ass I kind of wished she'd given him hell. Overall, despite the angsty topics covered in the novel (PTSD, one sided romance, an obsessive ex, and an impending annulment), the heroine's generally cheerful personality stopped the book from becoming too melodramatic for my tastes.
October 6, 2015
This book took my breath away!
It was lovely, and painful, and romantic in a way the average historical just passes over.
I do admit that Charlotte's instant and fantastical love did not appeal to me, but the way love grew between the two was magical.
Will is the best shy, and bookish hero I have seen in ages. While still exeplifying the heroism that his love adored.
Overall a GREAT romance, and a lovely, deep, and painfully true historical.
It was lovely, and painful, and romantic in a way the average historical just passes over.
I do admit that Charlotte's instant and fantastical love did not appeal to me, but the way love grew between the two was magical.
Will is the best shy, and bookish hero I have seen in ages. While still exeplifying the heroism that his love adored.
Overall a GREAT romance, and a lovely, deep, and painfully true historical.
January 3, 2016
This book was awesome. There is so much i could say but I know it would just be a recap of the summary and spoilers mixed in! In the end i found it to be an amazing story and totally recommend it.
arc from NetGalley
arc from NetGalley
May 6, 2016
Underwhelming storytelling. Hero such a wimp. I expected more badass alpha behavior from a hero who's an explorer.
This historical is why I rarely read them anymore. The heroes have become squish betas and improvished they must marry or lose inheritence....blech.
This historical is why I rarely read them anymore. The heroes have become squish betas and improvished they must marry or lose inheritence....blech.
February 4, 2016
Not bad for a debut. The heroine wasn't to my taste, seeming almost childlike at certain points but the writing has potential. I will definitely try other books by her.
did-not-finish
April 11, 2021Dnf at 19%. Kinda cute but then it turned sour really quickly. The guy is too indecisive for mah taste.
December 1, 2015
For a debut author I am still in complete surprise by how powerful of a writer that Lord has already proven herself to be. Normally new authors and their releases are lacking something perhaps it is the writing itself, the romance or mishaps of the plot; and yet this book had everything. To date this book is the best debut from a new author that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
The romance within the story is the best romance I have read in a long time. It was refreshing while still possessing all the traits that a reader loves the most about such novels. The romance was slightly dark, a little unforgiving at a times and gut wrenching all at the same time. It was beautiful and everything that I could have hoped for in any historical-romance.
Within this year alone I have been stressing the point that historical-romances have lost their way. This book alone more than makes up for prior flaws of both other books and authors. It was almost as if Lord knew what readers such as myself wanted and she delivered it boldly and desirably. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book as I loved every moment of it.
Will, the hero was certainly tortured. He was seeking something that he didn't understand in the beginning. He was an explorer and I felt like his heart was calling to be free. It wasn't easy for Will to be open with anyone and that included Charlotte, the heroine. Together these two had more than their work cutout for them. There were times that they were madly in love with one another, then other times when Charlotte couldn't stand the sight of Will, but together their HEA ending made for the most memorable ending I have read in a long time.
If you want romance and I do mean absolute romance that is so many things all wrapped into one than you must read this book. I know that I will without a doubt be adding Lord to my list of my favorite authors for years to come.
Note: This review was submitted to all rightful parties PRIOR to posting the review to Goodreads.
The romance within the story is the best romance I have read in a long time. It was refreshing while still possessing all the traits that a reader loves the most about such novels. The romance was slightly dark, a little unforgiving at a times and gut wrenching all at the same time. It was beautiful and everything that I could have hoped for in any historical-romance.
Within this year alone I have been stressing the point that historical-romances have lost their way. This book alone more than makes up for prior flaws of both other books and authors. It was almost as if Lord knew what readers such as myself wanted and she delivered it boldly and desirably. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book as I loved every moment of it.
Will, the hero was certainly tortured. He was seeking something that he didn't understand in the beginning. He was an explorer and I felt like his heart was calling to be free. It wasn't easy for Will to be open with anyone and that included Charlotte, the heroine. Together these two had more than their work cutout for them. There were times that they were madly in love with one another, then other times when Charlotte couldn't stand the sight of Will, but together their HEA ending made for the most memorable ending I have read in a long time.
If you want romance and I do mean absolute romance that is so many things all wrapped into one than you must read this book. I know that I will without a doubt be adding Lord to my list of my favorite authors for years to come.
Note: This review was submitted to all rightful parties PRIOR to posting the review to Goodreads.
December 26, 2015
In Search of Scandal by Susanne Lord offers a spirited heroine, an honorable but tormented hero and a unique premise that sets it apart. In Victorian London, explorer Will Repton copes with fame and survivor's guilt, as the only member of his Tibetan expedition to survive a massacre. Charlotte Baker is a beautiful, popular socialite who is deeper than she seems, and is captivated by Will. Can Charlotte's determination to win Will's heart overcome his determination to return to Tibet?
Well-written and engaging, Susanne Lord's debut novel will keep you turning pages!
Well-written and engaging, Susanne Lord's debut novel will keep you turning pages!
Read
January 1, 2016Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 59%, so I won't be rating this one.
I couldn't connect with either of the main characters in this one. I love the way it started - with the awkward hero and the head in her clouds heroine, but she became too desperate as the story went on, and he was too much of a coward to just go after the heroine when it was clear her was falling in love with her. It just didn't work for me.
DNF at 59%, so I won't be rating this one.
I couldn't connect with either of the main characters in this one. I love the way it started - with the awkward hero and the head in her clouds heroine, but she became too desperate as the story went on, and he was too much of a coward to just go after the heroine when it was clear her was falling in love with her. It just didn't work for me.
December 2, 2015
*I received a free copy of this ebook through netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Review posted!
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Review posted!
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