Seduction & Scandal

By: Charlotte Featherstone

Narrated by: Helen Stern

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

With the scandalous nature of her birth to live down, Isabella Fairmont dreams of a proper marriage—even if a passionless one. She saves her deepest desires for the novel she dares to pen, wherein a handsome lord with dark powers seduces her. But then her courtship with an appropriate suitor is threatened by the sudden attentions of the reclusive Earl of Black… whose pale blue eyes and brooding sensuality are exactly as she described in her book.

Isabella tries to resist the mysterious Earl. Yet as he pursues her, with inexplicable knowledge of her past and kisses that consume her, Isabella fears she will succumb.

If only the earl could tell Isabella the truth. With very real, and treacherous, thieves endangering her life, Black will need to protect Isabella from the very people she trusts the most.

©2011 Charlotte Featherstone (P)2011 Harlequin Enterprises

Repetition Not Always Entertaining...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Frustrated with "Death"...

Any additional comments?

I found this audio to be somewhat confusing. The narrators voice wasn't very distinctive going from character to character, male to female, except for the Welsh character. On top of that, it wasn't always clear when the scene was reality or a dream. The whole repetition of the "Death" theme throughout the book became so tedious I found myself rolling my eyes and saying here we go again over and over and over... ugh! I read the second book first, not realizing this is a series, since Audible did not indicate it, and found it to be exceptional. Overall I'm glad I listened to this one and was worth the credit only to help understand the characters and story in more detail as setup for the remaining books.

Great read

This book is definately worth your time and credit. The tone is dark and the Earl of Black is awesome. It is not a predictable plot like many "romance" stories. Nothing less that I have come to expect from Carlotte Featherstone. The narrater did a great job by keeping all the voices deistinct and not mauling the male voices.

Jane Eyre-esque gothic romance à la Harlequin

No spoilers within.

If you like Jane Eyre type gothic romance novels where the main characters actually go between the sheets, in a very descriptive, direct non-suggestive kind of way, then this is the book for you!

Which words come to mind when reflecting back on this book? Gothic romance, scandal, sex, mystery.

If you aren't familiar with the gothic-type romance novel, you may think it's cheesy. But if you've read Jane Eyre, you won't... not too much anyways.

Bad writing, cliched, one dimensional characters

This book does not succeed as a period romance or an erotic period romance -- Stephanie Laurens does so much better on both fronts, especially her Cynster series. I thought the mystery was too contrived and unbelievable, there was no real suspense. The writer never made me care about the characters -- I liked the supporting cast better than the two main lovers

Boring

What would have made Seduction & Scandal better?

A different reader. The story line was slow and boring

Has Seduction & Scandal turned you off from other books in this genre?

no I love historic books

What didn’t you like about Helen Stern’s performance?

no variation for characters

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

no

Ultimately annoying and idiotic

What disappointed you about Seduction & Scandal?

Garbled storyline that can't decide if it is action/mystery/gothic thriller/or romance with a little bit of Gollem's "my precious" thrown in for good measure. It is a mess. The primary and secondary characters are more or less undeveloped and two dimensional and actually become less engaging and attractive as the story unfolds.

Would you ever listen to anything by Charlotte Featherstone again?

I tried one other and it wasn't much better. Returned a third title unread.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Seduction & Scandal?

It needed a complete overhaul.

Repetitive, boring, did not finish it

What would have made Seduction & Scandal better?

Less repetition and a more empathy developed main character.

What was most disappointing about Charlotte Featherstone???s story?

The repetition of the word death without an explanation for the fascination for the same, except that he was seductive.

What aspect of Helen Stern???s performance would you have changed?

Nothing. The failure of this endeavor was not hers.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Seduction & Scandal?

It needs a complete rewrite with more character development.

Any additional comments?

Is it possible to get a refund?

Great new series

Where does Seduction & Scandal rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top 5

What did you like best about this story?

The Mystery of the artifacts

What about Helen Stern’s performance did you like?

Really like her narration. she has a great voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Lord Black admits to Isabelle, that he has known her for longer then she thought

Any additional comments?

Great 1st book, I'm on to the second , and it is also very good, can't wait fro part 3.

Simply Remarkable!

I think this was a very surprising take on the Knights Templar and those who guard their treasures. Also we have a female romance writer for a heroine. I did get a lil confuse at first because Death was so similiar to Black, but alas as was revealed he was Death or Death was Black....there I go again. LOL. The story was very entertaining and a definite period romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator did an excellent job, she didn't butcher the male voices at all.

I could not get to the second book fast enough!!!

OMG... I cannot wait to read more from Charlotte Featherstone!!! The way she is able to put to words the feelings she is expressing in her writing is remarkable!! I cannot even think of another author to compare her to, Christine Feehan would be the closest but I have to say Charlotte Featherstone is one author I will read for as long as she writes!!