The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride

By: Victoria Alexander

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Number one New York Times best-selling author: "Nobody does Victorian romance hijinks like Alexander.... Fabulously snappy banter, and a soupçon of sex." (Publishers Weekly)

Delilah, the very proper widowed Lady Hargate, and Mr. Samuel Russell, previously acquainted during one unforgettable night in New York City when caution - and clothing - were thrown to the wind, will choose to pretend they have never met before when they wind up at the same wedding months later in England.

The lady plans to avoid love and its complications at all costs. The gentleman intends to change her mind.

Guests are invited to enjoy the many diversions of Millworth Manor as Delilah's sister and Samuel's friend are joined in matrimony - delightful grounds, lavish drawing rooms, secluded corners - and for Delilah and Samuel, the chance to discover that one night may have been only the beginning....

Contains mature themes.

©2014 Cheryl Griffin (P)2021 Tantor

How Many Ways Do I Dislike Delilah?

Delilah is introduced as she is leaving the bed where she and Sam had a passionate night of anonymous sex during her trip to New York. Her plans are to dismiss him and return to England with no plans to ever see him again. Sam surprisingly shows up to attend her sister’s wedding and, at what appears to be their first introduction, she is shockingly rude. Delilah is the person who, after a display of unbridled rudeness, proclaims “I am never rude!”

Delilah proclaims she never drinks spirits and then drinks spirits. Delilah blushes and then proclaims she never blushes. Delilah kisses back and then denies it. For hours and hours of listening, it’s Delilah doing something and then shrewishly denying she did that. The substance of the of story is Delilah acting out her defenses to being around a man to whom she’s attracted. While she's being beyond unreasonable, more and more, Sam develops as a very sympathetic and likable character and therein was the hook for me.

Delilah finally gets to know Sam and realizes he’s a good, honorable, intelligent man who also happens to be extremely handsome. At the same time, she realizes she’s fallen in love with him and therefore must run him off because, although they are great friends, they DO NOT SUIT, she strenuously opines. Delilah’s reasoning for all this is based on the fallout and broken heart from her first marriage. Meanwhile, for some unbelievable reason, Sam continues to love her.

As Delilah of biblical times used Samson’s weakness to give her power over him, this Delilah schemes with the help of her sisters to use Sam’s vulnerability to cast him away. I had already disliked Delilah from the start but still liked Sam and wanted him to get his HEA. I finally lost interest in Sam for withstanding Delilah’s constant battle to discourage him, offend him and hurt him.

I spent hours listening and waiting for the turn-around in Delilah’s self-absorbed character and the only reward for that was a few minutes at the end when she suddenly turns into someone willing to believe in love.

Now that I’ve finished the story, I feel the need to wash off remnants of Delilah. That’s how unlikable she was to me.