Love and Scandal

By: Donna Lea Simpson

Narrated by: Charlotte Parry

Our recording studio engineer took the unusual step of sending us a note to let us know this is one great listen - we hope you'll agree!

Collette Jardiniere writes of passion and seduction, but has experienced neither. Her pseudonymous novel, The Last Days of a Rake, has shocked Victorian society and become a runaway bestseller. Infamous roué Charles Jameson is “revealed” as the author, and Collette is outraged when the cad does little to curtail the gossip.

Intrigued by the book the tabloids claim is his thinly veiled autobiography, Jameson tries to find the real author. Returning to London after an unsuccessful hunt, he is pleasantly distracted by a plain country miss reading the wicked book.

Collette is dismayed when she learns the identity of the devastatingly handsome man who kissed her senseless. And Jameson cannot believe that she wrote The Last Days of a Rake. As Collette tries to convince him of the truth, their mutual attraction reaches a fever pitch, and soon they find themselves in a real-life scandal.

©2010 Donna Lea Simpson (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

HALF AND HALF---

Fifty percent of this story was maddening. The beginning was SO drawn-out it was almost unbearable and there were many moments of constant repetition and soapboxing that weighed the story down. The other fifty percent was an enjoyable tale, the plot a bit different from the typical historical romance. All-in-all, it didn't quite satisfy. Narrator was pleasant, her voice changes were subtle but not annoying.

Tried to hard

This book is a classic case of an author trying to hard to please: Please their editor, their supposed fan base and even, no doubt, their misplaced desire to produce "something more then just the ordinary romance." The mere fact that she felt the need to have almost every living author of the time make multiple appearances I think proves both points. I was very disappointed, and yet I think the author does have talent, it was just hidden behind the show she put on here. Would I read something else she had written? Maybe read but NEVER listen - to much hard earned money to waste.