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Banning Sisters #1
Scandalous
England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the next male heir -- a distant cousin -- and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive, Gabby arranges beautiful Claire's London season. She'll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus, Gabby's plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious stranger's deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks off each other -- and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling in love.... With this beautifully rendered romance, bestselling author Karen Robards begins a sweeping series about three unforgettable sisters poised to take the ton by storm.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Karen Robards
118 books3,332 followersKaren Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
December 5, 2021
I don't know what to say. I believe I only finished this book due to curiosity. I really wanted to know who the heck was the earl. If not for the hero holding on to the information, I am not sure I would have finished this book.
What keeps me a bit frustrated is the fact that we don't know how society will act towards the couple. Do I have to read the next book to understand things that were not well finished here? Looks like so and that is frustrating.
What keeps me a bit frustrated is the fact that we don't know how society will act towards the couple. Do I have to read the next book to understand things that were not well finished here? Looks like so and that is frustrating.
May 10, 2023
4.5⭐️
Me ha gustado mucho aunque el principio se me hizo lento y me ha faltado conocer a Nick y su vida. Pero he disfrutado de la lectura
Me ha gustado mucho aunque el principio se me hizo lento y me ha faltado conocer a Nick y su vida. Pero he disfrutado de la lectura
April 21, 2011
For my first book ever by Karen Robards, I think I started off with a good one! It's defintely different from any other regency romance in style and the premise, but once it got to the part where Gabriella makes her personal bargain with the devil, to pretend Marcus, her absent brother, is not really dead, and decides to take things as far as she can, I was hooked, and instantly adored Gabriella! It's exactly what I would have done! This story is a great example of making best lemonade out of lemons, and devil be damned. Everyone thinks of Gabriella in a slight way, she's a woman, she's disadvantaged because of her lack of fortune, disabled because of her leg, pitied because of the awful way her father treated her, but she doesn't really view herself as less than. She's got guts and spunk, but not too much that makes her obnoxious.
The premise of the story, Marcus is murdered, and his friend, later to be revealed as Nick, takes over as Marcus to try and 'smoke' the killer out, only to realize that Marcus' sisters come to London at the same time, pretending the same rouse so that Gabriella can help get her sister Katherine married off hopefully before anyone finds out the real Marcus is dead, and they are homeless. Meanwhile, Nick-pretending-to-be-Marcus and Gabriella are falling in love, only everyone thinks they are brother and sister!! Scandalous to be sure! I really like Nick throughout, although it was hard for me to love him, until the very end. It's a difficult character-type to pull off, and I think it was done fairly well. To have a hero assume the identity of a dead man and parade around London, while trying to show a romance between the hero and heroine, without giving away too many details as to why he's parading around as the dead man until the end to make it a cliffhanger and mini mystery, I don't think much could be improved upon in this case. It's to be commended for taking such a tangle-ridden hero and making him seem a sane person without confusing the readers or making him look like a fool.
Things I didn't like:
- Jim, the stable groom, or whatever he was. The only other person who knew about the secret besides Gabriella, Nick and his valet. Yes, he seemed a fatherly sort to her, but he still was her servant, not her equal. He was too opininated, and kept beating a dead horse, we got it, he didn't like Nick. And the fact that Gabby had to ask him several times to do things, when if he truly was her servant, should not have happened. If they were closer, that relationship wasn't really show to hold up the way he talked to her.
- The sisters. I can't really say I'm excited to read about Claire or Beth at all, particularly Beth. Yes, Claire is this outstanding beauty but she's as timid as they come, and for a girl of 19, to be at odds so often with Beth, seems very immature. And Beth seems especially inconsiderate to me. There's a scene where Gabby walks in and sees Beth laying casually across Marcus/Nick's bed, and tells her, even if he is her brother, her posture and decorum should be more refined, and Beth basically ignores her, blows her off. Later on in that same scene, she practically calls Gabby lame (as in disabled) and Claire points out how hurtful that is to Gabby, her response is to basically say, well, it's true. I will read/listen to the books, but I may not love the sisters. Hopefully they will get better.
Things I loved:
- Gabriella! She's a girl after my own heart!
- The gruff Aunt Augusta, I hope she's in the rest of the series! It would be neat to see her find a companion too!
- The unusual premise (at least unusual to me) I love different plot lines, which is hard to do in Regency.
- That Nick got Gabriella to dance!!! Who doesn't love to be danced and romanced by a sexy man, even if he is supposed to be your brother?
I would definitely read this again (I actually listened to the audio), and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the sisters, and it was a little on the light side, would have loved a little more depth, but still highly enjoyable and highly recommended.
The premise of the story, Marcus is murdered, and his friend, later to be revealed as Nick, takes over as Marcus to try and 'smoke' the killer out, only to realize that Marcus' sisters come to London at the same time, pretending the same rouse so that Gabriella can help get her sister Katherine married off hopefully before anyone finds out the real Marcus is dead, and they are homeless. Meanwhile, Nick-pretending-to-be-Marcus and Gabriella are falling in love, only everyone thinks they are brother and sister!! Scandalous to be sure! I really like Nick throughout, although it was hard for me to love him, until the very end. It's a difficult character-type to pull off, and I think it was done fairly well. To have a hero assume the identity of a dead man and parade around London, while trying to show a romance between the hero and heroine, without giving away too many details as to why he's parading around as the dead man until the end to make it a cliffhanger and mini mystery, I don't think much could be improved upon in this case. It's to be commended for taking such a tangle-ridden hero and making him seem a sane person without confusing the readers or making him look like a fool.
Things I didn't like:
- Jim, the stable groom, or whatever he was. The only other person who knew about the secret besides Gabriella, Nick and his valet. Yes, he seemed a fatherly sort to her, but he still was her servant, not her equal. He was too opininated, and kept beating a dead horse, we got it, he didn't like Nick. And the fact that Gabby had to ask him several times to do things, when if he truly was her servant, should not have happened. If they were closer, that relationship wasn't really show to hold up the way he talked to her.
- The sisters. I can't really say I'm excited to read about Claire or Beth at all, particularly Beth. Yes, Claire is this outstanding beauty but she's as timid as they come, and for a girl of 19, to be at odds so often with Beth, seems very immature. And Beth seems especially inconsiderate to me. There's a scene where Gabby walks in and sees Beth laying casually across Marcus/Nick's bed, and tells her, even if he is her brother, her posture and decorum should be more refined, and Beth basically ignores her, blows her off. Later on in that same scene, she practically calls Gabby lame (as in disabled) and Claire points out how hurtful that is to Gabby, her response is to basically say, well, it's true. I will read/listen to the books, but I may not love the sisters. Hopefully they will get better.
Things I loved:
- Gabriella! She's a girl after my own heart!
- The gruff Aunt Augusta, I hope she's in the rest of the series! It would be neat to see her find a companion too!
- The unusual premise (at least unusual to me) I love different plot lines, which is hard to do in Regency.
- That Nick got Gabriella to dance!!! Who doesn't love to be danced and romanced by a sexy man, even if he is supposed to be your brother?
I would definitely read this again (I actually listened to the audio), and the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the sisters, and it was a little on the light side, would have loved a little more depth, but still highly enjoyable and highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2011
Gabriella Banning has been faced with the most unappealing dilemma. She just received word that her half-brother Marcus, the Earl of Wickham has been killed. The Earldom will pass to their cousin Thomas who will surely push Gabby and her two sisters out onto the streets and of course, Gabby’s sister Claire will not have her debut season. Taking a huge risk, Gabby rushes her sisters off to London pretending her half-brother is still alive and well. She figures all she has to do is achieve an advantageous marriage for her sister and when the truth about the Earl is finally revealed, it will no longer matter if her sister is spoken for.
What she doesn’t expect is for her half-brother to welcome her when they arrive in London. Even though she only saw her half-brother once many years ago, Gabby is suspicious immediately and knows this man pretending to be her half-brother certainly cannot be him! But this impostor has his own agenda. He plans to play the role of the Earl while he determines which person really killed his friend Marcus and why. Gabby and “Marcus” confront each other about their individual schemes and agree to remain silent about their treachery. Now that they know the truth about one another, they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Worried about the uproar they would cause if the truth is revealed, the real scandal is how close these two ‘siblings’ have become...
Okay...I try to be fairly mature and dignified about my reviews, but I have to get it out... “SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” Ok, my squee of delight is over...but I had to do it. Simply because I LOVED this novel! What a true and utter delight Scandalous is! It is the perfect historical romance with a tender and touching story about two individuals that are so perfect for one another yet can’t seem to realize it.
Gabby was splendid! She was innocent and scared at the beginning of this novel, but her love for her sister forces her to face issues and make decisions that display true courage. The deceit this charade requires is a difficult pill to swallow for a naive young lady like Gabby, but when worst comes to worst, she sticks out her chin and overcomes the worst dilemmas. It was adorable and amusing to read. Still, her insecurities were always prominent in her mind and the inner struggles she faced believing she was unlovable were delicate moments that any woman can relate to. She was a martyr for her sisters, but not in a flamboyant or outrageous way. Her actions were often unnoticed and no matter what the consequences, she always kept the smile on her face. She was everything a heroine ought to be.
And of course there is “Marcus.” He came onto the pages as a cad, a ruthless libertine, but Gabby is an easy distraction. There were parts is this novel that made me constantly change my opinion about him. Some parts were charming, other parts revealed slight rakish behavior, but I feel that is what made the ending all that more amazing. He is certainly conflicted by the feelings he has for Gabby, but also wants to find Marcus’ killer. His journey is not an easy one. While the book was nearly perfect on all accounts, I would have loved to hear the story from his perspective just a little bit more. Maybe Robards didn’t do that because his identity was kept a secret for most of the book, but there were plenty of times I wished to know what he was thinking!
I have read a few novel by Robards, but never one that I have enjoyed as much as this. The description in the first few chapters was overwhelming and it really worried me, but the novel easily picked up after the first forty pages or so. There was hardly a time that I wanted to put the novel down, it was just that fascinating! What appealed to me the most were the characters. While Robards can hook you into whatever world she creates, it was her characters in this case that wouldn’t let go. You will care about them, appreciate their struggles and remember then long after the book has concluded. I don’t believe I’ve ever wanted a couple to have a happily ever after more than I did with these two characters. It was beautifully written, it was compelling, it was nearly perfect. A definite keeper for this reader!
Overall Rating: 5/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
What she doesn’t expect is for her half-brother to welcome her when they arrive in London. Even though she only saw her half-brother once many years ago, Gabby is suspicious immediately and knows this man pretending to be her half-brother certainly cannot be him! But this impostor has his own agenda. He plans to play the role of the Earl while he determines which person really killed his friend Marcus and why. Gabby and “Marcus” confront each other about their individual schemes and agree to remain silent about their treachery. Now that they know the truth about one another, they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Worried about the uproar they would cause if the truth is revealed, the real scandal is how close these two ‘siblings’ have become...
Okay...I try to be fairly mature and dignified about my reviews, but I have to get it out... “SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” Ok, my squee of delight is over...but I had to do it. Simply because I LOVED this novel! What a true and utter delight Scandalous is! It is the perfect historical romance with a tender and touching story about two individuals that are so perfect for one another yet can’t seem to realize it.
Gabby was splendid! She was innocent and scared at the beginning of this novel, but her love for her sister forces her to face issues and make decisions that display true courage. The deceit this charade requires is a difficult pill to swallow for a naive young lady like Gabby, but when worst comes to worst, she sticks out her chin and overcomes the worst dilemmas. It was adorable and amusing to read. Still, her insecurities were always prominent in her mind and the inner struggles she faced believing she was unlovable were delicate moments that any woman can relate to. She was a martyr for her sisters, but not in a flamboyant or outrageous way. Her actions were often unnoticed and no matter what the consequences, she always kept the smile on her face. She was everything a heroine ought to be.
And of course there is “Marcus.” He came onto the pages as a cad, a ruthless libertine, but Gabby is an easy distraction. There were parts is this novel that made me constantly change my opinion about him. Some parts were charming, other parts revealed slight rakish behavior, but I feel that is what made the ending all that more amazing. He is certainly conflicted by the feelings he has for Gabby, but also wants to find Marcus’ killer. His journey is not an easy one. While the book was nearly perfect on all accounts, I would have loved to hear the story from his perspective just a little bit more. Maybe Robards didn’t do that because his identity was kept a secret for most of the book, but there were plenty of times I wished to know what he was thinking!
I have read a few novel by Robards, but never one that I have enjoyed as much as this. The description in the first few chapters was overwhelming and it really worried me, but the novel easily picked up after the first forty pages or so. There was hardly a time that I wanted to put the novel down, it was just that fascinating! What appealed to me the most were the characters. While Robards can hook you into whatever world she creates, it was her characters in this case that wouldn’t let go. You will care about them, appreciate their struggles and remember then long after the book has concluded. I don’t believe I’ve ever wanted a couple to have a happily ever after more than I did with these two characters. It was beautifully written, it was compelling, it was nearly perfect. A definite keeper for this reader!
Overall Rating: 5/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter
July 20, 2020
O idee tare interesantă de la care ar fi putut porni ceva mega uau. Abia după pagina 250 am simțit că această carte a atins potențialul. La început totul a fost destul de plat și doar se întâmplau lucruri ciudate care nu mi se păreau potrivite.
August 22, 2017
A mí me gustó, en general.
La parte romántica me pareció excelente: el acercamiento que tienen los protas que son muy atípicos, son primero enemigos, luego cómplices y después viene la tensión sexual y después lo demás.
Pero la trama me pareció como apenas esbozada, no muy desarrollada.
Él es un impostor, se hace pasar por el Conde hermano de las chicas que fue asesinado en Ceylán. Pero las razones por la que lo hace se aclaran recién al final, en un pif paf: él se va tres días por un asunto y vuelve con todo resuelto y lo explica en una escena y listo. Me parece que podría haber tenido un desarrollo mejor, qué es lo que va investigando por ej...
Pero, lo importante, el romance está rebueno
La parte romántica me pareció excelente: el acercamiento que tienen los protas que son muy atípicos, son primero enemigos, luego cómplices y después viene la tensión sexual y después lo demás.
Pero la trama me pareció como apenas esbozada, no muy desarrollada.
Él es un impostor, se hace pasar por el Conde hermano de las chicas que fue asesinado en Ceylán. Pero las razones por la que lo hace se aclaran recién al final, en un pif paf: él se va tres días por un asunto y vuelve con todo resuelto y lo explica en una escena y listo. Me parece que podría haber tenido un desarrollo mejor, qué es lo que va investigando por ej...
Pero, lo importante, el romance está rebueno
April 18, 2010
Scandalous is indeed scandalous as the name suggests.
When Gabby decides to pretend that her half-brother had not died in Ceylon, leaving her and her 2 unmarried sisters destitute, she does not imagine a darkly attractive man to stand in as his impostor. Less did she expect that she would be loosening her morals for a taste of his pleasure. Posing as Wickham, Nick is searching for the man behind the murder of the real Wickham, but after teaming up to perpetuate the charade and spending time in Gabby's presence, it becomes real hard to ignore the charms of his "sister". Now, is there any more scandalous than the whole ton witness the pair of supposed siblings fall in love?
The H/H start off as enemies and then partners in crime, until they finally start caring. It was an intriguing plot. but very unlikely both because you can't cover up a death so easily and because no decent woman goes to the lengths Gabby takes to ensure her sister's futures.Nick was a nameless blackguard for most of the book and we never really get to figure out what he's thinking - a drawback in this case, because it took me until the end to endear to the hero. Character histories are slow to surface, making them seem like they appeared as an afterthought. The heroine has a lame leg, a physical flaw not often mentioned of a heroine. The heroine's father is such a DB. I wish he was alive to beat up.
I really enjoyed reading this and I would recommend this to anyone who reads HR. Its a light read, with a very minor mystery plot. There is a few bits of angst on the heroine's part (about her physique and age), which I think I actually enjoyed.
When Gabby decides to pretend that her half-brother had not died in Ceylon, leaving her and her 2 unmarried sisters destitute, she does not imagine a darkly attractive man to stand in as his impostor. Less did she expect that she would be loosening her morals for a taste of his pleasure. Posing as Wickham, Nick is searching for the man behind the murder of the real Wickham, but after teaming up to perpetuate the charade and spending time in Gabby's presence, it becomes real hard to ignore the charms of his "sister". Now, is there any more scandalous than the whole ton witness the pair of supposed siblings fall in love?
The H/H start off as enemies and then partners in crime, until they finally start caring. It was an intriguing plot. but very unlikely both because you can't cover up a death so easily and because no decent woman goes to the lengths Gabby takes to ensure her sister's futures.Nick was a nameless blackguard for most of the book and we never really get to figure out what he's thinking - a drawback in this case, because it took me until the end to endear to the hero. Character histories are slow to surface, making them seem like they appeared as an afterthought. The heroine has a lame leg, a physical flaw not often mentioned of a heroine. The heroine's father is such a DB. I wish he was alive to beat up.
I really enjoyed reading this and I would recommend this to anyone who reads HR. Its a light read, with a very minor mystery plot. There is a few bits of angst on the heroine's part (about her physique and age), which I think I actually enjoyed.
August 6, 2020
Opening disclaimer: This was an Audible Escape listen (although I think I have a physical copy of this book somewhere). As always when I listen to audiobooks, don't be offended if I spell names wrong.
This was one of those books I read years -- probably decades -- ago, and basically remembered that it was the one about the chick who falls in love with the dude everyone thinks is her brother. For some weird reason, for about a year now, I've been trying to think of the name of the stupid book so I could re-read that squicky premise. Finally, one day I got tired of trying to remember it off the top of my head and did some Google Fu. It took me a while (I kept thinking this was a Jo Beverley book for some reason) but I found it, and on Audible Escape no less.
Due to the misogynistic circumstances that were life in Regency England, after responsible, respectable Gabby finds out her brother, the heir to her father's estate, has died, she realizes she and her sisters will basically have absolutely no options as the estate is now due to be inherited by a cousin who will throw them out into the world with nothing.
This is why I don't read regency books as much as contemporaries. I know things still aren't "equal," necessarily, but still...
Fucking patriarchy.
Anyway, she decides to cover up the death just long enough to give her beautiful younger sister a season so she can be married off and the three come to London long enough to find... an imposter living as their brother. Only no one but Gabby knows he's an imposter. So all of London basically sees her "brother" kissing her hand and being entirely too friendly. Basically it's like a few Japanese animes I've seen (Angel Sanctuary, Vol. 1, I'm looking at you, you weirdo), only she's the only one who knows otherwise.
Honestly, the romance of the book is fun. I liked the push-pull between Gabby and "Marcus" and I believed that he was a genuinely good guy and she was a strong enough woman not to let him get away with bullshit.
But come on. Really? How does that ending work out?
I mean I kind of want to read Claire's story just so I can figure out how she made a respectable marriage because... um...
This was one of those books I read years -- probably decades -- ago, and basically remembered that it was the one about the chick who falls in love with the dude everyone thinks is her brother. For some weird reason, for about a year now, I've been trying to think of the name of the stupid book so I could re-read that squicky premise. Finally, one day I got tired of trying to remember it off the top of my head and did some Google Fu. It took me a while (I kept thinking this was a Jo Beverley book for some reason) but I found it, and on Audible Escape no less.
Due to the misogynistic circumstances that were life in Regency England, after responsible, respectable Gabby finds out her brother, the heir to her father's estate, has died, she realizes she and her sisters will basically have absolutely no options as the estate is now due to be inherited by a cousin who will throw them out into the world with nothing.
This is why I don't read regency books as much as contemporaries. I know things still aren't "equal," necessarily, but still...
Fucking patriarchy.
Anyway, she decides to cover up the death just long enough to give her beautiful younger sister a season so she can be married off and the three come to London long enough to find... an imposter living as their brother. Only no one but Gabby knows he's an imposter. So all of London basically sees her "brother" kissing her hand and being entirely too friendly. Basically it's like a few Japanese animes I've seen (Angel Sanctuary, Vol. 1, I'm looking at you, you weirdo), only she's the only one who knows otherwise.
Honestly, the romance of the book is fun. I liked the push-pull between Gabby and "Marcus" and I believed that he was a genuinely good guy and she was a strong enough woman not to let him get away with bullshit.
But come on. Really? How does that ending work out?
I mean I kind of want to read Claire's story just so I can figure out how she made a respectable marriage because... um...
September 10, 2018
This is such a fun concept for a plot. Gabby's half-brother, Marcus, has inherited the Earl of Wickham title and estate upon her father's death. Gabby has not seen Marcus save for one meeting in early childhood, but she has written to him in hopes that he will allow her sister, Claire, to have a coming out to the Ton so that she may make an advantageous marriage. Unfortunately, Marcus has been killed in Ceylon. Gabby's servant, Jem, witnessed it with his own eyes. Before his untimely death, Marcus had written Gabby, letting her know he would be more than happy for them to use the resources at his disposal to help Claire find a husband. But he's dead now, and the next in line is Cousin Thomas, a stingy relation that would kick them out of their home the next day if he only knew he had the power to do so.
What's a girl to do? Well, naturally the best course of action is to pretend she doesn't know Marcus is dead and go ahead and attend the Season in London and get Claire married. Unfortunately for Gabby, she finds an imposter masquerading as her half-brother upon their arrival at the Earl of Wickham's London residence.
Not only is the plot a refreshing take on mistaken/hidden identities, Scandalous is also well executed. Gabby and Marcus are a taboo match, a relationship Robards excels at here as well as in Forbidden Love and there are great scenes here that Robards does so much with as Gabby and Marcus fall for each other, even as they pretend to act as half-siblings in public. Jem and Barnet, the respective servants of Gabby and Marcus, are also hilarious comedic relief, particularly in the initial showdown between their masters, where the barbs and insults are so over-the-top. A promising beginning to the Banning Sisters trilogy.
What's a girl to do? Well, naturally the best course of action is to pretend she doesn't know Marcus is dead and go ahead and attend the Season in London and get Claire married. Unfortunately for Gabby, she finds an imposter masquerading as her half-brother upon their arrival at the Earl of Wickham's London residence.
Not only is the plot a refreshing take on mistaken/hidden identities, Scandalous is also well executed. Gabby and Marcus are a taboo match, a relationship Robards excels at here as well as in Forbidden Love and there are great scenes here that Robards does so much with as Gabby and Marcus fall for each other, even as they pretend to act as half-siblings in public. Jem and Barnet, the respective servants of Gabby and Marcus, are also hilarious comedic relief, particularly in the initial showdown between their masters, where the barbs and insults are so over-the-top. A promising beginning to the Banning Sisters trilogy.
December 7, 2016
2.5 stars.
So I'm one of those people who doesn't like historicals that are written like historicals. The phrases always stop me enjoying what's going on, which seems like such a silly thing, but being confused or unsure of something usually ruins a reading experience for me, especially if it's constant. This was full of things like 'jaundiced eye' and 'five and twenty' - although Gabby says thirty-three when explaining Marcus/Nick so whatever - so it became a bit confusing with old mixed with new and I really didn't like it.
I didn't like either protagonist. He bribed her to kiss him to save her sister from his rakish ways, and even though he had no intention he clearly knew she thought he did, so instead of putting her at ease he preys on her innocence. I don't usually mind that in books, but seeing him explain himself gave me the creeps at times, and I felt the end conflict of the book was just thrown in like wow here's your bad guy and all is fixed. It was just silly,
So I'm one of those people who doesn't like historicals that are written like historicals. The phrases always stop me enjoying what's going on, which seems like such a silly thing, but being confused or unsure of something usually ruins a reading experience for me, especially if it's constant. This was full of things like 'jaundiced eye' and 'five and twenty' - although Gabby says thirty-three when explaining Marcus/Nick so whatever - so it became a bit confusing with old mixed with new and I really didn't like it.
I didn't like either protagonist. He bribed her to kiss him to save her sister from his rakish ways, and even though he had no intention he clearly knew she thought he did, so instead of putting her at ease he preys on her innocence. I don't usually mind that in books, but seeing him explain himself gave me the creeps at times, and I felt the end conflict of the book was just thrown in like wow here's your bad guy and all is fixed. It was just silly,
July 17, 2018
I loved this story. The story was great but so was the audiobook! It was narration was excellent esp. since it was by my favorite narrator: Justine Erye. It was fun hearing some of her early narrations.
This story kept me intrigued and it was a story line I haven't seen often within Regency Romance. I loved the drama of the main characters appearing to be siblings falling in love, when in fact, they are not siblings. This author has me intrigued and I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
This story kept me intrigued and it was a story line I haven't seen often within Regency Romance. I loved the drama of the main characters appearing to be siblings falling in love, when in fact, they are not siblings. This author has me intrigued and I can't wait to read the other books in this series.
June 27, 2018
J'adore Gaby. Elle est courageuse et déterminée. Quant à Marcus, c'est un très bon héros. Canaille, mais pas trop.
June 22, 2016
Hola a Todos!!!
PRIMERA vez que leo una novela histórica-romántica... de Karen Robards jejejej no es la primera que leo una, de hecho me gustan, son mi placer culpable pero tampoco leo cualquier libro con portada victoriana, intento ser selectiva ya que hay un millón de autores de este estilo y se corre el peligro de caer en un bodrio total.
De Robards he leído otros libros por la misma razón elegí este libro dentro de las novedades de Ediciones B, y lo pasé bien leyéndolos, trataban de suspenso-conspiración con romance así que eran amenos, entretenidos y lo mismo me pasó con este libro, aunque debo agregar y destaco que me pasa con TODOS los libros que tratan de condes, duques, marqueses y lo que se les ocurra de este estilo... me da una terrrible verguenzaaaaaaa leerlos en la calle xD, de hecho lo sacó del bolso/cartera/mochila, casi casi escondida con mucho cuidado para que nadie note lo que tengo en la mano, e incluso intento colocar la portada de forma paralela al suelo para que nadie le preste atención jejejej como dije, es mi placer culpable!!! lo mas sano para estos casos sería usar una cubierta para libros, así no me arruinaría el cuello y leería tranquila xD
Otra cosa que me pasa con estos libros es... que me niego completamente a imaginar ciertas vestimentas jejeje, odio, ODIO, cuando el libro está emplazado en la época de 'calzas/calzones' de hombres, eso es entre 1400-1800, prefiero imaginarlos (solo en el caso masculino) casi con vestimenta actual (un poco raro) pero me da repelus imaginarlos con calzas.. sobre todo cuando hablan de los varoniles que son xD
Volviendo al libro, es una trilogía, se llama: Las Hermanas Banning y obviamente cada libro trata de una, la primera historia va de Gabby, quien trata desesperadamente de cuidar de sus hermanas una vez que se entera de que casi casi esta a punto de quedar en la calle, así que sin saberlo hace un pacto con el diablo :P disfruté mucho de la relación entre el supuesto Marcus y Gabby, que frente a todo el mundo son hermanos pero nada mas lejos de la verdad, me gusta la actitud de Gabriela de no dejarse amedrentar por nadie independiente de si se considera una solterona porque (tiene 25 y no se ha casado) y porque es 'coja' debido a un accidente de niña...
*Algo que siempre da risa de leer.. es cuando hablan de las solteronas porque pasaron de los 20 sin casarse... aunque por otro lado tampoco deberíamos reírnos considerando la taza de mortalidad de la época.
Volviendo al libro, las otras protagonistas son Claire y Beth, las hermanas menores de Gabby, de ambas la que sin dudas tengo muchas ganas de leer es a Beth=Elisabeth, Claire se me hace insulsa y por lo que anduve averiguando por medio de reseñas... no creo alejarme mucho de la verdad. Los libros son independientes así que se podrían leer sin problemas de forma saltada, obviamente no es la idea pero se puede y ahí tiene un punto a su favor.
La historia no la encuentro 'Novedosa' ni nada por el estilo, de hecho me recordó mucho a otra saga de hermanos que también pertenece a Ediciones B pero de la autora Lisa Kleypas: Los Hathaway, donde también la historia de la hermana mayor me pareció sin dudas la mejor.
Como dije no suelo reseñar muchos libros de Romantica de este estilo, casi siempre porque son libros que compro por las mías y leo casi de forma escondida jejeje pero no por ello los dejaría de recomendar :P de hecho podría hacer un especial de los mejores libros de época que he leído (y tengo) :P trataré de hacerlo en unas semanas.
Espero que puedan leerlos :D
PRIMERA vez que leo una novela histórica-romántica... de Karen Robards jejejej no es la primera que leo una, de hecho me gustan, son mi placer culpable pero tampoco leo cualquier libro con portada victoriana, intento ser selectiva ya que hay un millón de autores de este estilo y se corre el peligro de caer en un bodrio total.
De Robards he leído otros libros por la misma razón elegí este libro dentro de las novedades de Ediciones B, y lo pasé bien leyéndolos, trataban de suspenso-conspiración con romance así que eran amenos, entretenidos y lo mismo me pasó con este libro, aunque debo agregar y destaco que me pasa con TODOS los libros que tratan de condes, duques, marqueses y lo que se les ocurra de este estilo... me da una terrrible verguenzaaaaaaa leerlos en la calle xD, de hecho lo sacó del bolso/cartera/mochila, casi casi escondida con mucho cuidado para que nadie note lo que tengo en la mano, e incluso intento colocar la portada de forma paralela al suelo para que nadie le preste atención jejejej como dije, es mi placer culpable!!! lo mas sano para estos casos sería usar una cubierta para libros, así no me arruinaría el cuello y leería tranquila xD
Otra cosa que me pasa con estos libros es... que me niego completamente a imaginar ciertas vestimentas jejeje, odio, ODIO, cuando el libro está emplazado en la época de 'calzas/calzones' de hombres, eso es entre 1400-1800, prefiero imaginarlos (solo en el caso masculino) casi con vestimenta actual (un poco raro) pero me da repelus imaginarlos con calzas.. sobre todo cuando hablan de los varoniles que son xD
Volviendo al libro, es una trilogía, se llama: Las Hermanas Banning y obviamente cada libro trata de una, la primera historia va de Gabby, quien trata desesperadamente de cuidar de sus hermanas una vez que se entera de que casi casi esta a punto de quedar en la calle, así que sin saberlo hace un pacto con el diablo :P disfruté mucho de la relación entre el supuesto Marcus y Gabby, que frente a todo el mundo son hermanos pero nada mas lejos de la verdad, me gusta la actitud de Gabriela de no dejarse amedrentar por nadie independiente de si se considera una solterona porque (tiene 25 y no se ha casado) y porque es 'coja' debido a un accidente de niña...
*Algo que siempre da risa de leer.. es cuando hablan de las solteronas porque pasaron de los 20 sin casarse... aunque por otro lado tampoco deberíamos reírnos considerando la taza de mortalidad de la época.
Volviendo al libro, las otras protagonistas son Claire y Beth, las hermanas menores de Gabby, de ambas la que sin dudas tengo muchas ganas de leer es a Beth=Elisabeth, Claire se me hace insulsa y por lo que anduve averiguando por medio de reseñas... no creo alejarme mucho de la verdad. Los libros son independientes así que se podrían leer sin problemas de forma saltada, obviamente no es la idea pero se puede y ahí tiene un punto a su favor.
La historia no la encuentro 'Novedosa' ni nada por el estilo, de hecho me recordó mucho a otra saga de hermanos que también pertenece a Ediciones B pero de la autora Lisa Kleypas: Los Hathaway, donde también la historia de la hermana mayor me pareció sin dudas la mejor.
Como dije no suelo reseñar muchos libros de Romantica de este estilo, casi siempre porque son libros que compro por las mías y leo casi de forma escondida jejeje pero no por ello los dejaría de recomendar :P de hecho podría hacer un especial de los mejores libros de época que he leído (y tengo) :P trataré de hacerlo en unas semanas.
Espero que puedan leerlos :D
May 18, 2014
How could such a great plot end up so lacking?
Lady Gabriella Banning has just found out that her half-brother, Marcus, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon. His will left no provisions for Gabriella, and her two sisters, Claire and Beth. Their only hope to avoid being put out on the streets would be for them to pretend that Marcus was still alive. This would give them a chance to give Claire a season in London. Claire making an advantageous marriage would save the three sisters from certain poverty. Just as that decision was made, a man claiming to be their brother, Marcus, showed up at his London townhouse. Claire had only seen her half-brother once, and her sisters had never seen him. Could this really be their brother, despite the news of his demise?
The plot sounded fabulous! I have to agree with another reviewer, the best part of this book is the blurb on the cover trying to get you to read the book. The plot begins quite interestingly the first 5% of the book, and then we get 85% of the book taking place almost exclusively in their adjoining bedrooms. How many noble brothers and sisters had adjoining rooms? And the small amount of action in the bedrooms was not passionate until the last 10% of the book. The plot was not developed at all until the very end. This author spent chapters and chapters on the minutiae of daily life in a Regency household and the H and h's thoughts. Almost all character development and furthering of the plot was done at the very abrupt end. The HEA was summed up in a page or two.
The H and h were so very promising and so was the plot. How could this book get published like this? Where were the editors? Where were the author's friends? When there was dialogue, the author delivered, but on every other point, this author gave nothing to her readers. She forced us to wallow in blandness and boredom.
Lady Gabriella Banning has just found out that her half-brother, Marcus, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon. His will left no provisions for Gabriella, and her two sisters, Claire and Beth. Their only hope to avoid being put out on the streets would be for them to pretend that Marcus was still alive. This would give them a chance to give Claire a season in London. Claire making an advantageous marriage would save the three sisters from certain poverty. Just as that decision was made, a man claiming to be their brother, Marcus, showed up at his London townhouse. Claire had only seen her half-brother once, and her sisters had never seen him. Could this really be their brother, despite the news of his demise?
The plot sounded fabulous! I have to agree with another reviewer, the best part of this book is the blurb on the cover trying to get you to read the book. The plot begins quite interestingly the first 5% of the book, and then we get 85% of the book taking place almost exclusively in their adjoining bedrooms. How many noble brothers and sisters had adjoining rooms? And the small amount of action in the bedrooms was not passionate until the last 10% of the book. The plot was not developed at all until the very end. This author spent chapters and chapters on the minutiae of daily life in a Regency household and the H and h's thoughts. Almost all character development and furthering of the plot was done at the very abrupt end. The HEA was summed up in a page or two.
The H and h were so very promising and so was the plot. How could this book get published like this? Where were the editors? Where were the author's friends? When there was dialogue, the author delivered, but on every other point, this author gave nothing to her readers. She forced us to wallow in blandness and boredom.
May 19, 2016
En realidad es 3,5 pero la trama ha empezado con una idea muy original y me ha gustado la forma en que la autora la ha llevado a cabo. La primera parte del libro es más emocionante que la primera para mi gusto, más que nada porque cuando los protagonistas ya empiezan a estar juntos es todo un poco más tópico y sabes lo que va a pasar. Aún así, es una historia muy bonita y se lee rápido.
El único "pero" sería el final, ya que todo se soluciona demasiado rápido para ellos, pero por una sorpresa añadida de la autora, tampoco es un "pero" muy duro.
El único "pero" sería el final, ya que todo se soluciona demasiado rápido para ellos, pero por una sorpresa añadida de la autora, tampoco es un "pero" muy duro.
April 26, 2010
A great read in lots of ways: believable hero and heroine, thrilling story and well-written. The heroine is not the usual, perfect beauty, but has a cracking character, which really appeals to me. The story, although it sounds slightly daft, actually works really well, and the prose is very well-written, and fills out the details of the story without being tedious at all. A keeper.
October 24, 2013
I really enjoyed Scandalous by Karen Robards. The writing was excellent, loved the hero and heroine, the plot was good and moved along and a nice ending. It wasn't quite a 5 for me, but close!
May 6, 2014
I was going to give this three stars, but throwing in silly jealous stuff near the end dropped it to two. Well, then something other two-ish stuff (or maybe even one-ish) stuff happened, but I was too bored to care much.
I was intrigued by the premise of this one. Women decides to pretend her brother is still alive (so she has access to his money to go to London for her sister's come-out) only to discover someone pretending to be her brother! So, they know each other is lying, but revealing it would mean revealing they were lying.
But the relationship wasn't developed well at all and the premise didn't lead to really any fun at all. And then lots of dramatics at the end. I probably shouldn't have finished it, but that premise kept me reading in hopes that it would get better.
I was intrigued by the premise of this one. Women decides to pretend her brother is still alive (so she has access to his money to go to London for her sister's come-out) only to discover someone pretending to be her brother! So, they know each other is lying, but revealing it would mean revealing they were lying.
But the relationship wasn't developed well at all and the premise didn't lead to really any fun at all. And then lots of dramatics at the end. I probably shouldn't have finished it, but that premise kept me reading in hopes that it would get better.
August 28, 2012
Very good story, even though the identification of Wickham's murderer at the end seemed a bit too easy and purely based on chance. I liked however the solution provided for allowing fake-brother and sister to wed...
Very likable characters
Very likable characters
October 14, 2025
Picked up this 2001 HR on a discount, and read it, curious to see if/how dated a HR by a bestselling author would feel.
Gabriella, the 25 year old eldest daughter of a recently-deceased earl, makes a bargain with the man who shows up pretending to be her half-brother, the new earl: she won't tell the world he's a fake if he allows her to spend the funds to bring her gorgeous younger sister out into society. Both have secrets, both from the reader and from each other; the primary reason to keep reading is to discover the truth behind the secrets, since the romance here is more of an adversaries being mean to each other than to anything sweet or enticing. But the secrets prove rather tension-less, resolved mostly off-page and at the very end of the story.
The book is, unsurprisingly, given its pub date, terribly dated in its depiction of male/female relations. The narration never tells the reader, never mind Gabriella, who this strange man is or why he's impersonating her half-brother; we're just urged, along with Gabby, to "trust" him. Hard to do so when he's so uniformly unpleasant to Gabby, how he promises not to do things and then immediately breaks his word, and how he pushes her boundaries (especially sexual ones) even after he says he'll stop if she objects. We're definitely in the Old Skool realm of "women's verbal objections don't matter; it's all ok if her body acquiesces..." Not a lot of romance here, either, just physical attraction.
Amazing how norms about what makes for a romantic male lead, and a female romantic lead, have changed in 20+ years...
Gabriella, the 25 year old eldest daughter of a recently-deceased earl, makes a bargain with the man who shows up pretending to be her half-brother, the new earl: she won't tell the world he's a fake if he allows her to spend the funds to bring her gorgeous younger sister out into society. Both have secrets, both from the reader and from each other; the primary reason to keep reading is to discover the truth behind the secrets, since the romance here is more of an adversaries being mean to each other than to anything sweet or enticing. But the secrets prove rather tension-less, resolved mostly off-page and at the very end of the story.
The book is, unsurprisingly, given its pub date, terribly dated in its depiction of male/female relations. The narration never tells the reader, never mind Gabriella, who this strange man is or why he's impersonating her half-brother; we're just urged, along with Gabby, to "trust" him. Hard to do so when he's so uniformly unpleasant to Gabby, how he promises not to do things and then immediately breaks his word, and how he pushes her boundaries (especially sexual ones) even after he says he'll stop if she objects. We're definitely in the Old Skool realm of "women's verbal objections don't matter; it's all ok if her body acquiesces..." Not a lot of romance here, either, just physical attraction.
Amazing how norms about what makes for a romantic male lead, and a female romantic lead, have changed in 20+ years...
March 10, 2020
J'avoue, à ma grande honte, je ne me souvenais pas du tout de l'histoire alors que je l'ai lue il y a très longtemps. Franchement, il n’est pas mal même si je le trouve un peu court. L'histoire manque de consistance et j'ai trouvé au final que tout va trop vite. La romance entre Gabby et celui qui se fait passer pour Marcus son demi-frère est sympathique et on la suit avec plaisir. Tout comme on espère découvrir la véritable identité du héros et pourquoi il se fait passer pour le demi-frère de l'héroïne.
Le personnage est intéressant à suivre même si au final je ne le trouve pas des plus travaillés. Comme Gabby d'ailleurs qui manque un peu de consistance. Son secret est servi tièdement et le dénouement arrive de la même façon.
Si dans l'ensemble, ce titre est plutôt plaisant, il n'est pas inoubliable, non plus... la preuve ^^... mais ça se lit et très bien même.
Le personnage est intéressant à suivre même si au final je ne le trouve pas des plus travaillés. Comme Gabby d'ailleurs qui manque un peu de consistance. Son secret est servi tièdement et le dénouement arrive de la même façon.
Si dans l'ensemble, ce titre est plutôt plaisant, il n'est pas inoubliable, non plus... la preuve ^^... mais ça se lit et très bien même.
May 17, 2020
No ha estado mal y creo que me ha sorprendido eso precisamente.
Me explico. No había leído nada de la autora, pero en mi mente neusiana estaba un poco encasillada en 'viejunismos' y ahí a veces es como adentrarse en el infierno xD PERO NO.
Si bien el libro no es lo mejor que he leído y no es tampoco una joya, está bien. Es un libro entretenido que tiene un argumento cuanto menos interesante y diferente. Tiene unos personajes definidos y bien planteados. La historia puede pecar un poco de surrealista pero es que esas cosas pasaban, seamos sinceros, el drama, suplantación y muerte en Inglaterra en esos años.. pan de cada día.
La historia de amor considero que está bien pensada y que no peca ni de insta-love, ni de eterna. Se va fraguando. Los protagonistas tienen carácter. Hay humor. Hay momentos, como no, de dramita. Y bueno ese final en que estás ahí sufriendo y chillando en plan NO PUEDE TERMINAR ASI (porque efectivamente viendo las paginas que faltan y sabiendo que esto es romance sabes que va a terminar bien) y bueno, todos felices y contentos. Pues oye, me ha gustado. No está nada mal.
Aprovechando que me quedan días de mayo, pues me voy a seguir leyendo la trilogía de esta mujer.. que entretenida es.
Me explico. No había leído nada de la autora, pero en mi mente neusiana estaba un poco encasillada en 'viejunismos' y ahí a veces es como adentrarse en el infierno xD PERO NO.
Si bien el libro no es lo mejor que he leído y no es tampoco una joya, está bien. Es un libro entretenido que tiene un argumento cuanto menos interesante y diferente. Tiene unos personajes definidos y bien planteados. La historia puede pecar un poco de surrealista pero es que esas cosas pasaban, seamos sinceros, el drama, suplantación y muerte en Inglaterra en esos años.. pan de cada día.
La historia de amor considero que está bien pensada y que no peca ni de insta-love, ni de eterna. Se va fraguando. Los protagonistas tienen carácter. Hay humor. Hay momentos, como no, de dramita. Y bueno ese final en que estás ahí sufriendo y chillando en plan NO PUEDE TERMINAR ASI (porque efectivamente viendo las paginas que faltan y sabiendo que esto es romance sabes que va a terminar bien) y bueno, todos felices y contentos. Pues oye, me ha gustado. No está nada mal.
Aprovechando que me quedan días de mayo, pues me voy a seguir leyendo la trilogía de esta mujer.. que entretenida es.
June 2, 2019
Az na ten "uzasny" nazov velmi podareny kusok 😁. Vcelku neotrepany namet, aj kusok napatia a akcie bolo, aj romantiky, aj tajomstva... Lahke citanie na odreagovanie. A ano...5* (samozrejme v ramci zanru 😉)...az sa sama cudujem, vtiahlo ma to do deja ale ze poriadne 🤣🤣🤣.
July 15, 2017
Leído en Octubre de 2009
Una historia bonita, que se lee rápido... nada del otro mundo pero es entretenida!!
Una historia bonita, que se lee rápido... nada del otro mundo pero es entretenida!!
July 20, 2020
This was ok.
February 5, 2024
Muy soso
December 21, 2011
Hola mis queridos lectores! Espero que estén pasándolo bien en estas fiestas y San Nicolás o el Niño Jesús les hayan dejado muchos regalos debajo del árbol, ya estamos a solo horas de que el año finalice, este año ha sido muy gratificante. En mi caso he pasado el tiempo en alegría con mis sobrinos, extrañando a los seres queridos que ya no están y compartiendo con los que afortunadamente aun están con nosotros. Desde este lugar les hago llegar mis mejores deseos para este nuevo año 2012. Esta es mi última reseña por este año y me da algo de nostalgia y expectativa a la vez por el que ya comienza, la meta es seguir haciendo las cosas cada vez mejor para todos ustedes.
En cuanto a la reseña actual la puedo catalogar como un libro muy bueno, me gustó más de lo que pensaba y pase un rato agradable puesto que está ambientado en la Inglaterra de 1810, que aún permanecía bajo el reinado de Guillermo VII. Como ya les he comentado anteriormente, me encanta la historia y justo ahora comencé a estudiarla, probablemente en el futuro los personajes que tengo en mi cabeza desde hace años, los ambiente en esa época tan lejana pero fascinante.
La sinopsis esta bastante acertada en el resumen de lo que trata la historia por eso no les diré como se desarrolla todo, es ideal en este caso puntualizar los rasgos más interesantes del libro La trama no es nada complicada, es una caja de misterios, con una historia de amor bastante novedosa (él no es bueno ni trata de serlo, ella es coja y no se hace la sufrida insistentemente ni mucho menos una dama lastimera) en su trasfondo posee ciertos aspectos que le dan una buena puntuación en mi opinión, por ejemplo el primer encuentro de los protagonistas, en donde él (falso Wickham) no pretendió quedar impactado, pasmado, ni nada similar; no se parece a los protagonistas de las historias románticas que alguna vez he leído por ahí, al contrario, la consideró bastante corriente y de manera poco convencional le hace vida cotidiana de cuadritos, le crispa los nervios, le roba la paciente tranquilidad de siempre y literalmente la saca de sus casillas . Tal vez se preguntarán, porque considero este poco halagador aspecto algo importante en la historia. Sencillo, porque es capa por capa que la verdadera belleza de nuestra protagonista se da a conocer, eso me resultó encantador y un punto a favor, que ubica esta novela fuera del molde.
Gabby por su parte, noble y dama de cuna, no se preocupa tanto de su futuro como el de sus hermanas. Es una luchadora y superviviente, su dolencia física no es más que un evento desafortunado que le ocasionó el desprecio paterno, asumió las responsabilidad para con sus hermanas de manera firme, hasta que su hermano muere y se ve en la necesidad de defenderse de un desconocido hombre que la tienta como nunca lo hizo nadie, haciéndola más consciente de eso que sabe que le falta pero que cree de alguna manera no poder tener; esta por otro lado el asunto de que el falso Wickham pueda ser un criminal, tramposo y peligroso, un hombre del que no se puede fiar. Esto pone a Gabby una vez más, en una situación que la obliga a guardar las apariencias y cubrir las falsedades a su alrededor por el bien de sus queridas hermanas.
Puede decirse que es un romance definitivamente distinto, dos personalidades distintas, fuertes y apasionadas que luchan por salir con el corazón ileso y fracasando en ese cometido, de manera estrepitosa. Robards tiene una manera de escribir impecable, no solo en describir acertadamente a sus personajes sino también en el desarrollo y composición de la obra, sin caer en cursilerias, ni frases trucadas nos recrea una trama digna de ser leída. Puedo decir, que el libro vale la pena leerlo, es fascinantemente contradictorio al amor convencional y eso es fabuloso para los que amamos los buenos giros en un libro. Espero leerme toda la serie, pues todas las hermanas Banning tienen su rasgo particula, me encantara leer a fondo sus personajes
FRAGMENTO:
—¿Quien eres? Supongo que tendrás una identidad propia. Exijo que me lo digas. Y lo que te propones al hacerte pasar por mi hermano. Aparte de vivir como un marajá. Durante unos momentos se miraron en silencio. Cuando él respondió, lo hizo con tono casi indiferente.
— No veo ningún motivo que me obligue a revelarte nada sobre mi persona.Sus lánguidas palabras enfurecieron a Gabby.
—Eres un canalla.
—No tengo inconveniente en reconocerlo — respondió él con un tono que hizo que Gabby se pusiera a temblar de indignación.
—Te exijo que dejes en paz a Claire.Él emitió una carcajada y meneó la cabeza como si se sintiera muy asombrado.
—¡Que ferocidad la tuya, Gabriella!. No puedes atemorizarme para que me aleje de tu hermana, como bien sabes, pero es posible que puedas sobornarme para conseguirlo.
September 2, 2018
I went into this one wondering how the pretend siblings would 1. start their bargain, and 2. how they would become a couple without the scandal at the end.
I wasn't totally sold on the couple, but they had some wonderful moments. The thing is, I wasn't convinced of their happily ever after. The whole set up was a bit weird to me and how the sisters and some of the servants acted didn't seem right.
I'm not sure if I'll read the next books about the other two sisters.
I wasn't totally sold on the couple, but they had some wonderful moments. The thing is, I wasn't convinced of their happily ever after. The whole set up was a bit weird to me and how the sisters and some of the servants acted didn't seem right.
I'm not sure if I'll read the next books about the other two sisters.
June 8, 2011
This was my first read by Karen Robards. Scandalous is the first in a trilogy about The Banning Sisters, three girls who all share the same father but different mothers. The first installation is about Gabriella, the eldest. She’s a take-charge kind of woman, filling the shoes of their parental figures (dad is dead, may the heathen rest in peace; mom(s) are deceased as well) and taking care of her younger siblings. She commits herself to securing a coming-out for her next oldest sister, Claire, and writes to her half-brother, Marcus, the Earl of Wickham, for his permission to take the family to London. Marcus receives the letter and agrees, but he’s suddenly shot dead on his tea plantation in Ceylon. Gabriella’s servant returns to her with news of their brother’s untimely demise as well as his letter of agreement, and Gabriella is faced with a dilemma – if she announces the news of her brother’s death the earldom will pass to their stuffy, cruel cousin; but if she hides the news she can take her sisters to London and secure a future for Claire. Gabriella decides to take a gamble, and they pack up their things and set off to London. Gabby keeps the secret of Marcus’s death between herself and her servant. You can only imagine her shock and mortification upon arriving in London to find the Earl of Wickham in residence. You know, because HE’S DEAD. “Marcus” is, in fact, an imposter and he senses upon first meeting his “sisters” that Gabby knows that something is amiss. What Gabby doesn’t know, though, is that pseudo-Marcus is on the hunt for Real-Marcus’s killer, and he assumed the Earl’s identity in hopes of luring the murderer out into the open.
The great thing about Gabby is she has a hell of a temper. And Pseudo-Marcus, hereon referred to as “PM” is a bit of a pompous ass. The banter between the two is funny. Objects fly, including bullets. Of course PM and Gabby fall for each other, but they have to tread carefully because everyone around them sees them as brother and sister. And we all know how “Flowers in the Attic” THAT is.
Scandalous was a fun read. It wasn’t one that will stick with me, but I did have a good time reading it. Robards has a conversation-like writing style with her descriptions. I liked that the three Banning sisters were each their own woman, all three encompassing completely different personalities. The most recent release of Robards’ was Shameless, the story of the youngest Banning sister, Elizabeth. I’ll probably pick it up some time in the future, but I’m in no rush to do so. Mandi over at Smexy Books recently reviewed it.
What I loved about this book: Gabby is feisty. She throws things. She shoots people. It’s fantastic.
What I didn’t like: The virgin premise gets a bit old for me, and this case was no exception. It was well played, however.
Rating: C+
The great thing about Gabby is she has a hell of a temper. And Pseudo-Marcus, hereon referred to as “PM” is a bit of a pompous ass. The banter between the two is funny. Objects fly, including bullets. Of course PM and Gabby fall for each other, but they have to tread carefully because everyone around them sees them as brother and sister. And we all know how “Flowers in the Attic” THAT is.
Scandalous was a fun read. It wasn’t one that will stick with me, but I did have a good time reading it. Robards has a conversation-like writing style with her descriptions. I liked that the three Banning sisters were each their own woman, all three encompassing completely different personalities. The most recent release of Robards’ was Shameless, the story of the youngest Banning sister, Elizabeth. I’ll probably pick it up some time in the future, but I’m in no rush to do so. Mandi over at Smexy Books recently reviewed it.
What I loved about this book: Gabby is feisty. She throws things. She shoots people. It’s fantastic.
What I didn’t like: The virgin premise gets a bit old for me, and this case was no exception. It was well played, however.
Rating: C+
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