The Scent of Scandal

by Carole Matthews

Seeking a refuge from the trials of urban London and memories of her ex-lover, Hugh, Rose sets up housekeeping and her business as an aromatherapist in a small country village, but she soon discovers that her eccentric neighbors have become convinced that she is running a bordello. By the author of For Better, for Worse. Original. 100,000 first printing.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, British Literature, Womens Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 1998

About the author

Carole Matthews is an international bestselling author of hugely successful romantic comedy novels. Her unique sense of humour has won her legions of fans and critical acclaim all over the world.

A Minor Indiscretion and A Compromising Position both reached the Top 5 in the Sunday Times bestseller chart in the UK. You Drive Me Crazy reached number 8 in the original fiction charts. The novel Welcome To The Real World was shortlisted for RNA romantic novel of the year 2007.

In 2006 Carole co-edited - with writer Sarah Mlynowski - two new editions of the hugely popular Girls' Night In charity series called Girls' Night Out - one for the USA and one for Canada. All proceeds go to War Child.

Carole has presented on television and is a regular radio guest. When she’s not writing novels, television or film scripts she manages to find time to trek in the Himalayas, rollerblade in Central Park, take tea in China and snooze in her garden shed in Milton Keynes which is near London, England.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent chick lit, especially good as a sunbed read. Recommended if you're looking for easy reading.

Three stars.

[Leona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few books by this author and have enjoyed most of them. Unfortunately, her earlier work is slow starting with disappointing characters, and unrealistic endings. "A Whiff of Scandal" is no exception.

Outside of a few entertaining secondary characters, the characters leave a lot to be desired. We have a wife who sidelines as a hooker, a heroine who leads a life of adultery, and a hero who isn't much better. To say his roving eye leads him into trouble would be an understatement. Though in her later work, she can make the eccentric antics of her characters funny, charming and highly entertaining, it just didn't work here.

On a more positive note, CM has significantly evolved as a writer with incredible stories such as A Place To Call Home, The Cake Shop In The Garden, It's Now or Never: The No-Nonsense Guide to Leadership, Calling Mrs Christmas.

If you've never read her work before, I highly recommend her more recent work.

[~☆starlight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second Carol Matthew's book I have read and I did enjoy it more than the first although the book has a bit of a slow start I stuck with it and eventually things got a bit more interesting. If there was one thing about the book I didn't particularly like it is the adultary element like let's meet on platform 8 I think its a big divider amongst people myself included and I just wish Dan instead of staying and being miserable left his girlfriend before chasing Rose and I wish Rose wasn't as weak as she turned out to be when it came to Hugh I really couldn't understand her at that point or Frank's calm demeanor towards Melissa either but there you go. Rant over with the book was definitely readable and I will be reading more of her books in the future

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

After detesting her previous book Let’s Meet on Platform 8, I was a little undecided as to whether to bother with another Matthews novel but I had a couple more on my shelf and thought I’d give her one more shot. Well, the plus side is that it is a darned sight better that the aforementioned, nevertheless, I think this author is obsessed with cheating, affairs and relationship/marriage break-ups and I don’t feel she gets you engaged with the offending characters enough to really feel strongly enough for them to forgive them their infidelities. Rose, an aromatherapist, moves from London to escape her married lover Hugh and comes to a little village near Milton Keynes. But, as with all village life, it is close knit and people soon begin to draw conclusions about why so many men are coming back and forth to her little cottage – they think she has opened a brothel. Little do they know that one of their ‘locals’ has already thought of that! Melissa is entertaining her husband’s co-workers at the police force – more cheating. Somehow none of the nosey neighbours seem to have cottoned onto that one while they have their binoculars trained to Rose’s window. Then Rose really does begin to give them something to talk about – though funnily enough this doesn’t seem to generate quite so much interest as you would have thought - unable to find herself a free and single bloke, she starts carrying on with another attached (and of course unhappily so) man – Dan, the local builder. Begin the predictable mix ups leading to a cliché ending. It’s a light-hearted quite cheerful read, but even if you are looking for a bit of fluffy chick-lit, I feel there are better authors out there.

[Samantha Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few Carole Matthews books and I think I need a break from them as this being my 4th book the characters and plot are to similar, the main character is always the plain Jane or the one with a natural beauty and the man she falls for is always dashing and has a girlfriend who is far more glamorous but with a bad attitude.
The plot in this book is so lame I almost gave up as the first few chapters didn't flow very well and was irritating to read. But I stuck with it and of course it had the ending I expected. I enjoyed cottage by the sea more even though it had the same predictable ending the book was far better written.
This book felt like a short story with little description about the village and surrounding area.

[Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading books by Carole Matthews. This is one of her older ones and I have read quite a few negative reviews on this book but I really enjoyed it. It was easy going, funny and I enjoyed the links with essential oils. If you need a book that just takes you away from the world for a bit but doesn't require too much thinking then this one is perfect! Also a choice if you like essential oils.

[Zara Khuld]

I didn't like this book except for some little things like: the village, aromatherapy essential oils and that the couple ended up together. . otherwise I couldnt stand what was the main concept of the book..I guess the writer wrote this book when she was super busy and she had to write a book!😞

[Tracy Larner-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slowly working my way through done of the older Carole Matthews and this one was wonderful. I really liked the characters and found them easy to visualise in my mind.
I also liked the aromatherapy snippets at the beginning of each chapter!

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not good at all, and it was slow. I read because its inanity provided a tiny bit of distraction--not in terms of "what's going to happen," but in terms of, wow, how bad can this book be? A few of the side characters weren't horrible, but for the most part, sounded like a terrible place to live. The idea that characters would have names of herbs/flowers seemed way too coincidental for a small town and a really fake set-up for a story. The main characters--not appealing, and their relationship involved pressure and condescension. Whatever, it's over with now.

I looked at my other reviews of this author's work. With no 3 stars in the mix at all, and several 1 stars, that's it for her.

[Ayesha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Adding this boring novel to a small pile of my "half-read" books. This book doesn't have much of an incentive to keep me going and finish it. The plot is weak and it's something I can guess too well, the author is trying too hard at humor but failed poorly at it. The main characters evoked several yawns from my mouth and if a writer incorporates romance in a therapeutic massage therapy, sorry I cannot continue.

[Angie Rhodes]

Well I have to say, this had me giggling away, I enjoyed the story, especially the batty sisters who think poor Rose is a hooker, because of all the men going in and out of her house, it's up to Dan, the owner of Builders Bottom to let her know, she is the talk of the village, thanks to extra help from Mr Patel the Post Office owner. Carole Mathews books always cheer me up.

[Dee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a good read at all. This book is drippy. Sad, weak, pathetic male and female lead characters. The only little spark is Angelica, or even Anise for that matter.

[Suzanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very very dissatisfied and disappointed with this book. Her books are usually great but this one in my
Opinion was useless and I couldn’t even get past chapter 4. I don’t recommend this one.

[Nava · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the humour and misunderstandings within the book.

[Anitha Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book.. for the first few pages i felt bit stuck.. but as i kept reading i felt a loving and satisfied feeling.. 💗

[PaolaZ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Draggy and boring

[Jennsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the wit and comedy element to this story. The plot of the overall story is a bit cheesey. There is a cast of interesting characters. The story did read a bit slow.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is slow to start but I found it fun and really wanted to see what would happen. Romantic fiction without much activity but full of interesting characters.

At the beginning of each chapter there is a clever description of an essential oil or blend with the name (and attributes) of a character or with the aim to solve a problem included in that chapter. This was an excellent tool to keep the reader interested.

Rose is an aromatherapist she moves to a small village to get away from a failed relationship. However, small villages have their problems and soon an elderly nosy neighbour is convinced Rose is entertaining men with more than just a professional therapeutic massage.

Dan is the local builder. Living with a gorgeous woman who doesn’t pull her weight in the relationship or in the house.

When Dan and Rose meet they start a friendship that causes both to reconsider their situations.

I am not overly keen that although the main character Rose isn’t misbehaving as suspected another resident is! I don’t mind a little bit of sexual content but this almost put me off. I was glad I persevered as this side storyline added to the humour - the descriptions weren’t gratuitous just set the scene as sex wasn’t the focus, misunderstandings were.

[Marie’s Book Boutique · Rating 5 out of 5]

To read full review here mariesbookboutique.wordpress.com/2018...

Rose, an aromatherapist hastily moves from the busy city of London to the exceptionally quiet village of Great Brayford. Bring her aromatherapy business with her, and working from the cottage is perfect for her. Rose is looking for a fresh start, somewhere quiet and to get over the breakdown of her affair with a family man Hugh.
But with new blood in the village, Rose idea of a quiet life, and no drama doesn't quite go to plan. The gossip is riff in the village as the villagers speculate bout all the comings and going's from Rose's cottage. Two sisters Anise and Angelica live across the way from Roses cottage, and Anise especially is concerned, speculating and making it her business to find out what Rose has brought to their village. Angelica, is the more relaxed but just seam's to go along with her sister. But are they both happy? Is there a chance of romance? Or are they happy living together?
Rose than finds herself getting an unexpected visit to her cottage from the local handsome builder; Dan. Who comes round after hearing of the grape vine that she was looking for a builder. Rose is stunned and shocked by it, however she asks if he can do the work. They both seam to strike up a connection immediately. Dan lives in the village; with his sort of girlfriend Gardenia. She is a stunning lady, and like's nothing more than to shop! In a bid to try and make their relationship work, Dan know's he has to make the effort. But is Gardenia happy with how things are? Is Dan flogging a dead horse? or has he started to have feelings for someone else?
Dan, start's work at Rose's cottage, and on his break they get chatting and both open up about their life's; which is what Rose didn't want to happen. He then tells her what all the gossip are speculating surrounding her job. Rose is mortified that they all think she is soliciting, and put's Dan straight right away. Is this the beginning of something? or are they just friends? Will Rose make the same mistake twice?
Rose even gain's some local client and imp articular Melissa; who comes back to her for some saucy massage oil's, when they get chatting Rose lets slip about her reason for coming to Great Brayford, and Melissa is totally amazed by Rose's scandal. Melissa is married to a much older policeman. But are the oil's for him? Has Melissa got her very own scandal going on?
This book is like one story with little side story's all in one book! I was glued to yet another of Carole's books, the plot was so god dam entertaining! When I finished each chapter I felt myself compelled to read on and find out more about these quirky folk and what goes on behind closed doors! I think Carole has portrayed village life to perfection, and make me laugh on the odd occasion. I was sad when I got to the end, not because it was sad far from it, it was because I didn't want to leave the characters that I had come to love!
A Whiff Of Scandal is packed full of village gossip, lots of scandal, new romance's, letting go of old one's, new found friendships, oh and did I mention scandal!!!!!!!!!!!
If your looking for a book to entertain you then look no further that A Whiff Of Scandal by Carole Matthews!

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few of Carole's books now and enjoyed every single one of them. This is one of her first books and I'm sad to say I didn't enjoy it. The storyline was weak and I struggled to get to the end. I didn't feel like I was reading one of Carole's books.

Rose leaves London and her ex Hugh (who is a married man) to live in a quiet English village. She's an aromatherapist and the nosey neighbour's think she's running a brothel with all the men coming in and out her cottage.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Rose's nosy neighbours claim that she has men popping in and out of her home all day. Having escaped from London and Hugh, her devastatingly handsome, intelligent - and married - ex-lover, Rose has no idea that her occupation as an aromatherapist will cause such a scandal in her new neighbourhood!"

Light and entertaining.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book and was thoroughly enjoying it but I have to say by the end I was really disappointed. It became unbelievable and far fetched and some of the situations were so nonsensical that it ended up spoiling the whole thing. It had so much promise but ultimately fizzled out into nothing.

[Louise Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has had a lot of hit and miss reviews but I personally thoroughly enjoyed it! I have such a soft spot for cheesy romance novels and I think this was brilliant. I love the chemistry between Rose and Dan and I loved how it focused on all the other villagers as well. Another brilliant book by Carole Matthews!

[P · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of the book is very misleading. The only scandal in the book was the one with Melissa and the policeman and it was so annoying how it was just brushed off by the writer and by Melissa’s husband 😂. I didn’t like how Rose didn’t learn from her mistakes. And the book was really hard to finish

[Mrs Cancerian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the story of all the characters in the village of Lavender Hill Great Brayford.
It has reminded me of how much I was interested in aromatherapy. Good storyline throughout

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt quite dated and dragged quite a bit with a conclusion being reached in the last couple if pages.
I felt increasingly frustrated with Rose!
Not my favourite book of Carole's.
Her style has developed over the years

[mrs j holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read but different

I initially struggled to read this book it felt written slightly different!t than previous books but soon became the familiar Carole Matthews that I k ow and love . The story flowed and as always ended happily ever after but not as I had thought .

[Annie Curtis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I like a light and fluffy book as much as the next person but this one requires you to disengage your brain entirely... I wouldn't bother....

[Punit Sahani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, Quite a nice description of characters, taking help of several kinds of aromatherapy oils, naughty in bits.

[Antoinette Fooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit disappointing, last book of hers I read was so good but this was just average and quite predictable.