Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Who's in for a BR for A Scandalous Adventure? It's the third in the series that Andreas (Catsos Person), Mariana and I have enjoyed so far (see other BR topics). Plan to start on the 6th.

Synopsis:
They're hiding a scandalous secret
When his monarch's flighty fiancée disappears, Count Maximillian von Staufer is dispatched to find her. His search leads Max to discover not the princess, but a look-alike who could be her double. Desperate to avoid an international crisis, he conceives a plan that will buy some time—and allow him to get to know a beautiful Englishwoman.

Yay! I am excited to start this tomorrow.

I've started reading today.

I'm just starting ch 4.

As usual ladies please when you make a comment make known the last chapter you read as I expect to fall behind everyone!

Yay, I am excited too!

Will do Andrea! I like that rule, too.

Agreed.

Since I just finished my last book, I may start reading today as well.

Ch 4

So far, I have a couple of questions on my mind.

(view spoiler)[
1) is LM going to stick with Susannah as a "Tremaine" daughter as heroine of has LK changed upband will make Olivia the heroine?
2) will there be two secondaty romances or secondary and tertiary romances with Augusta as the Tertiary romance?
(hide spoiler)]

Ch 7

As per the two previous books, I still think Lady Penworth not only a horrid chaperone, but also (view spoiler)[a poor judge of character for choosing another chaperone for her daughter and Olivia. Augusta doesn't seem to have any idea of guarding these two girls and what they are exposed to as long as she, Augusta has an "adventure." Further, Lady Penworth seemed to think that Susannah would be some sort of check on Augusta's hair-brained schemes. Lady Penworth is hair-brained herself for letting anyone go anywhere with Augusta. This is rubbish. How can Susannah really stop Augusta from doing anything inappropriate? Augusta is too selfish to listen to anyone and Olivia isn't keen of mind enough to be a judge of anything. Susannah is a rational young lad--the voice of reason, but she is too young to exercise any control over others who wish to do something I'll-judged. (hide spoiler)]

General comment:

I like these chapters are short.

I don't mind a plenitude of chapters. I just prefer short chapters to long ones.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "General comment:

I like these chapters are short.

I don't mind a plenitude of chapters. I just prefer short chapters to long ones."

I agree completely!

Ch 12

I small a rat:

(view spoiler)[I think Hugo and Helga had something to do with the princess's disappearance. Either (I think) they removed her or they filled her head with lies to make her run away. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 13 (my last chapter for this evening)

(view spoiler)[Now the danger begins... (hide spoiler)]

I love intrigue!

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Ch 4

So far, I have a couple of questions on my mind.


1) is LM going to stick with Susannah as a "Tremaine" daughter as heroine of has LK changed upband will make Olivia the heroine?
2) will th..."

This is where I am now, and I am wondering the same thing. I did wonder why this wasn't called Lady Susannah's Scandalous Adventure, maybe it's due to prevalences of secondary romances.

I have stayed away from your other spoilers, but I do think it a strange traveling group, but I am also glad it's a change, because another trip with Lord and Lady Tremaine may have seemed too repetitious.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Ch 4

So far, I have a couple of questions on my mind.


1) is LM going to stick with Susannah as a "Tremaine" daughter as heroine of has LK changed upband will make Olivia the heroine?
2) will th..."

I just finished reading chapter 4.

(view spoiler)[
1) I this Susannah will still be the Heroine, but I wondered the same thing at the first meeting of the H/h.
2) Yeah, I'm thinking there might be two secondary romances, but I have yet to meet a third gentleman to know for sure. (hide spoiler)]

General Comment:

I think Lady Augusta is an even worse chaperone than Susannah's mother was in the first two books!

This book has a different feel to me. It includes mistaken identity trope and calls it out clearly as such by Lady Augusta. Susannah seems a little less adventurous than her sisters. She just happens to be very bored. Count Maximillian von Staufer seems very disrespectful. Is it because he does not know who Susannah is, or does he just not care about propriety?

Mariana wrote: "General Comment:

I think Lady Augusta is an even worse chaperone than Susannah's mother was in the first two books!

This book has a different feel to me. It includes mistaken identity trope and c..."

I think this book feels different to me because I expected more adventures in archiology. Also, this isn't a family trip with the parents. But I don't mind the setting of Germany. That is unique to choose Germany instead of France or Italy, though one of the other books was in Italy. It's just that I've seen HR in France, Italy, Russia, but not Germany. I haven't read all of these books set in these locations though.

I think Lady Penworth sent Susannah (view spoiler)[to chaperone Lady Augusta! This was I'll-judged but lady Penworth (surprise, surprise!)<\spoiler>

Response to Mariana's comment about mistaken identity.Not sure which chapter.

The difference for me with the mistaken identity is that the author doesn't try to make a mystery about the identity. LM is up front with the reader about the identity. Now as the readers(view spoiler)[ we get to see them try to keep the secret.

This version of mistaken identity is a little different. The big reveal will not be for the reader, but instead to some of the characters in the book, namely Prince Conrad! (hide spoiler)]

Maybe LK didn't call this "Lady Susanna's Scandalous Adventure" because the sub-plot is going to be be more prominent than in the previous books? I think this stuff with Olivia (view spoiler)[ pretending to be a princess betrothed to prince Conrad could eclipse Susanna and Count Max Von Stauffer. Doesn't the count's surname make to thing of frozen entrees? I love Stouffer's veggie lasagna--that's my personal favorite. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Links at bottom of this page to a sample of the next book due in November:

http://lilmarek.indiemade.com

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Mariana wrote: "General Comment:

I think Lady Augusta is an even worse chaperone than Susannah's mother was in the first two books!

This book has a different feel to me. It includes mistaken iden..."

That's a great point. I don't think I have read any in Germany either, maybe one. France is very common, and I have read a number of books with some time spent in Italy. I think Russia would be interesting, not sure if I hiread any set there, one or two maybe but it was very minimal and not central to the story.

Mariana wrote: "General Comment:
Count Maximillian von Staufer seems very disrespectful. Is it because he does not know who Susannah is, or does he just not care about propriety?


Maybe he's supposed to be "exotic" with this behavior?

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Links at bottom of this page to a sample of the next book due in November:

http://lilmarek.indiemade.com"

The synopsis sounds intriguing, like an Amanda Quick book maybe. The setting doesn't seem as exotic as the others, though.

Mariana wrote: "General Comment:

I think Lady Augusta is an even worse chaperone than Susannah's mother was in the first two books!

This book has a different feel to me. It includes mistaken identity trope and c..."

Maybe both on the captain max question. He may not know who, but he knows she is a lady. I think he probably doesn't care much for society rules.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Links at bottom of this page to a sample of the next book due in November:

http://lilmarek.indiemade.com"

Oh, thanks for sharing!

Just finished reading chapter 6. Here is a quote from the ultimate chaperone Lady Penworth.

His wife was frowning too. “I wouldn’t have thought that possible. I was relying on Susannah to keep them in check. Perhaps I was asking too much of her. She has always been so sensible and mature that I tend to forget how young she is.”

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Mariana wrote: "General Comment:

I think Lady Augusta is an even worse chaperone than Susannah's mother was in the first two books!

This book has a different feel to me. It includes mistaken iden..."

Good notes. I agree with all your comments.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Mariana wrote: "General Comment:

I think Lady Augusta is an even worse chaperone than Susannah's mother was in the first two books!

This book has a different feel to me. It includes mistaken iden..."

“This seems to be a case of mistaken identity,” the elderly lady continued, “and I believe, Captain, that you are the one making a mistake.” He opened his mouth to protest, but she raised a hand imperiously. She may have been old, but she stood firm and straight, as assured as any queen. He closed his mouth."

Mariana wrote: "Just finished reading chapter 6. Here is a quote from the ultimate chaperone Lady Penworth.

His wife was frowning too. “I wouldn’t have thought that possible. I was relying on Susannah to keep the..."

LOL... I rolled my eyes at that one...goodness lady

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Ch 7

As per the two previous books, I still think Lady Penworth not only a horrid chaperone, but also [spoilers removed]"

Exactly. Yes, she is very responsible and competent, but she is not worldly. There are all sorts of unknowns when traveling in a new country and culture.

Just finished Chapter 8

I like how Max and Susannah relate to being the responsible ones. Also, how Max realizes the obvious that one would think her parents would recognize.

"That he could believe, but Susannah needed to be looked after as well. How could their families have sent these ladies off on a trip without a man to take care of them?"

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Ch 12

I small a rat:

[spoilers removed]"

I am through Chapter 11, and am seeing this too. (view spoiler)[ Helga and Hugo must be up to no good. Could the Count be in on it too?

I am not sure how I feel about Olivia meeting the
Prince as the Princess. Seems like a difficult tangle to get out of. It is a storyline not often used though, and it probably helps that they are the secondary romance. (hide spoiler)]

I finished chapter 10 yesterday. I will complete through chapter 12 today and read some spoilers tonight.

(view spoiler)[
What a great idea of Olivia to learn some Schwäbisch. These characters and their families is previous and current books are respectful of other cultures, which would be unusual for the time but I like very much.

I wonder exactly is the undisclosed danger!? I am certain of its presence after the open carriage ride scene. (hide spoiler)]

Mariana wrote: "I finished chapter 10 yesterday. I will complete through chapter 12 today and read some spoilers tonight.


What a great idea of Olivia to learn some Schwäbisch. These characters and their familie..."

Yeah, that was a nice touch, though I did wonder what will happen when the real princess arrives.

I finished chapter 12.

(view spoiler)[The baroness gives herself away for the first time.

"“Indeed.” Helga laughed again. “I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if he misplaced the princess and brought a milkmaid instead.”"

I love how Susannah is scoping out the place, looking through every window and door, thinking about what can be locked and how Olivia can be secured.

Lady Augusta makes me laugh with her excitement at the danger! (hide spoiler)]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Ch 7

As per the two previous books, I still think Lady Penworth not only a horrid chaperone, but also [spoilers removed]"

Yes, it is outrageous how she would choose her young daughter to be The Chaperone for an elderly matron and a sister-in-law around her own age!

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Ch 12

I small a rat:

[spoilers removed]"

Definitely! I smell the exact same two rats you do.

Joanna wrote: "Just finished Chapter 8

I like how Max and Susannah relate to being the responsible ones. Also, how Max realizes the obvious that one would think her parents would recognize.

"That he could belie..."

"Max and Susannah relate to being the responsible ones" indeed! Unfortunately, they seem to be the only two with the least bit of responsibility...Susannag a little more than Max.

Joanna wrote: "Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Ch 12

I small a rat:

[spoilers removed]"

I am through Chapter 11, and am seeing this too. Helga and Hugo must be up to no good. Coul..."

(view spoiler)[I do not think the count is in on it.

I think when the princess shows up the entire story is going to take a turn. It is definitely a three-way romance! (at least in my opinion) Now I just wonder how it's all going to work out. Maybe the princess is going to end up with the two villains! (hide spoiler)]

I am going to read one more chapter and post one more time later this evening. Where in the book are each of you at?

I have not read yet tonight, but I thought I would read through Chapter 13 tonight, which would catch me up with Andrea's posts. I will probably read quite a few tomorrow.

I finished ch 14 this am as I didn't have to get to work until 10:15 today and I'm an early riser.

I also want to respond to your posts above, which I'll hopefully do tomorrow.

I plan to read a bit of this for a little while, Maybe 2 chapters.

I finished chapter 13, so I am only three chapters behind? I loved it! This was my favorite chapter yet!
(view spoiler)["He breathed in the scent of her. Something floral. Roses? But not just roses. Not just sweetness. There was something else. Thorns? Did thorns have a scent? If they did, then that was the scent of Lady Susannah—roses and thorns." (hide spoiler)]

Mariana wrote: "I finished chapter 13, so I am only three chapters behind? I loved it! This was my favorite chapter yet!
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ The warmth in his eyes when he looked at her fanned an unaccustomed flame inside her. His hand enveloped hers, and even through their gloves, she could feel the heat crackling, welding them together.

I think Susannah, busy being the mature, practical person she, though has been out in society and kissed before might be experiencing feeilings of attraction for the first time at her advanced age of 22! (hide spoiler)]

And also, (view spoiler)[ I think Max was smitten when Susannah hit him with her parasol! (hide spoiler)]

I think from ch 16 or 17:

“Yes.”(view spoiler)[ The general smiled. “We can foil his plot. We will find the princess and expose Hugo. When the son’s treason is uncovered, the father will be forced out. Even if he is not branded a traitor himself, he will be too shamed to be of any influence. Conrad will have to turn to us.”
“To us?” Max was horrified. “What do you mean, to us?”
as Count Herzlos rules the prince. Don’t you see? Hugo is actually playing into our hands.”
“Hugo is?” Max frowned. “By creating this disaster?”
“Yes.” The general smiled. “We can foil his plot. We will find the princess and expose Hugo. When the son’s treason is uncovered, the father will be forced out. Even if he is not branded a traitor himself, he will be too shamed to be of any influence. Conrad will have to turn to us.”
“To us?” Max was horrified. “What do you mean, to us?” (hide spoiler)]

I thought lady Augusta and the General would be a romance but:
(view spoiler)[Lady Augusta held up a hand. “Whether he is kind or weak is not the issue at the moment. Do you want to put Captain Staufer and General Bergen at risk, to say nothing of Susannah and me?”
“Oh no!” protested Olivia.
“Then stiffen your spine. Now that we have put this masquerade in motion, we have no choice but to follow it through. Hold up your head and remember that you are a princess.”
Would Lady Augusta be quite as vehement about preserving the secret if General Bergen were not involved?

The General knows how to butter up Lady Augusta and know how foolish she is to use her for his own ends.
(hide spoiler)]

Ch 28

No Lady Penworth blamed Lady Augusta. Lady penworth had rats in her upper story sending the girls with her.

(view spoiler)[“Augusta must have been out of her mind to take the girls to such a preposterous, backwards, uncivilized place. I am going to drag them all home the instant I lay my hands on them.” (hide spoiler)]

Ch 33

NOW that dingbat Lady Augusta is worried what "Anne and Philip" (The Penworth's) will think!

But the. Lady Penworth let the girls go away with that careless woman in the first place!

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Mariana wrote: "I finished chapter 13, so I am only three chapters behind? I loved it! This was my favorite chapter yet!
[spoilers removed]"

The warmth in his eyes when he looked at her fanned an..."

Yep, agreed.

Before I started chapter 14, I did not put the same emphasis on the "Embrace" that she did. However I think your quote points out why she thought so much of it and hence felt abandoned and lonely.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "I think from ch 16 or 17:

“Yes.” The general smiled. “We can foil his plot. We will find the princess and expose Hugo. When the son’s treason is uncovered, the father will be forced out. Even if h..."

I finished chapter 17.

(view spoiler)[You have a very good point. Maybe the General is the mastermind behind it all, manipulating everyone...or maybe he is just taking advantage of the situation to further his own power. Either way he is not a good guy. (hide spoiler)]

I am through Chapter 17 and knowing that you both are ahead of me, do I still need to use spoiler tags?

(view spoiler)[ I agree something is up with the General. I am not sure if he was actively plotting or if he is taking advantage of a situation and scheming now. (hide spoiler)] There is an interesting dynamic to the intrigue in this book, because blame and suspicion can be laid down on several players. It reminds me of playing the game Clue, which was my favorite as a kid.

Joanna wrote: "I am through Chapter 17 and knowing that you both are ahead of me, do I still need to use spoiler tags?

[spoilers removed] There is an interesting dynamic to the intrigue in this book, because bla..."

Nah, you need not continue using spoiler tags.

I loved Clue as a kid as well. I was just telling my daughter about it earlier this week. : )

Joanna wrote: "I am through Chapter 17 and knowing that you both are ahead of me, do I still need to use spoiler tags?

[spoilers removed] There is an interesting dynamic to the intrigue in this book, because bla..."

Joanna,

Possibly spoiler tags would still be good if, after this buddy read ends, a new member wants to follow our discussion as THEY read the book later on when we have finished the b-r.

Uh oh!

Mariana and I must have been posting at the same time so I'm just seeing her post.

I'll go along with the two of you regarding the spoilers.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Uh oh!

Mariana and I must have been posting at the same time so I'm just seeing her post.

I'll go along with the two of you regarding the spoilers."

Either way is fine with me as long as we note chapter at the beginning.