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What’s the harm in a little white lie?
Especially when it could carry so much good—a new life for a wounded soldier, catharsis after long years of war, and an opportunity for lady composer Olivia Delancey to finally hear her music played in public.
Newspaper publisher Will Marsh refuses to compound the sins of his father’s generation by taking money to print propaganda.
Combine Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels with Jane Austen, add a touch of Dickens and a modern sex scene, then you’ll have the flavor of Nicki Penttila’s Note of Scandal. The notes and scandals are far from predictable, and the writing’s smooth and intelligent. Well-researched historical details add depth to plot and character, from the technology of the printing press to financial constraints on rich and poor, the poverty of returning soldiers and the ethically strained laws of politics in the aftermath of Waterloo. Martin Purdy struggles to recover from his physical and mental wounds, while Olivia Delancey schemes to please everyone, especially Martin and his fiancee, accidentally plotting her own downfall. If only Olivia had someone besides her music to love, but now even her promised betrothal’s falling through. The men of this world respect women only as marriage fodder, and Olivia has no respect at all for their preconceptions.
My favorite scene is of newspaperman Will sketching the action in an age without photographers. Tourists stare at history in the making, and newspapers either report or devise the news. Meanwhile a pleasing marching tune keeps the story moving swiftly along. Olivia and Will have all the expected misunderstandings and more. And Olivia herself has to learn to recognize true friendship and become her own ally before story’s end. Note of Scandal is an enjoyable romantic novel with that extra bit of historical backstory that brings an era as well as its people to life--a quick fun read.
Disclosure: I received an ecopy during the author’s blog tour with a request for my honest review.
Nicky pens "A Note of Scandal", a historical romance in a unique plot filled with love, passion, history and a touch of humor. The flow of the story line is smooth and her characters were well developed. I reviewed the audio version on this book and Michelle Ford narrates the book and her character changes were done nicely which kept my interest. A must read for all historical romance fans.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.
Jonel
Posted May 2, 2013
This novel is a unique and captivating look back in time. Penttilla takes the lives of quite a few individuals and shows how they intertwine, creating real lives and an amazing story. She doesn’t stop there either. Love and heartbreak abound in this novel, where characters attempt to follow their hearts and themselves, against societal expectations.
This is a very well written story. It has a nice flow that fits with the storyline. The story and the writing progress in tandem with each other, not disconnected. Penttilla has created a very cohesive work that allows you to immerse yourself in it. This follows through into Penttilla’s narrative and descriptions. Although vivid and demonstrative, Penttilla’s descriptions remain unobtrusive. She uses them to enlighten her readers, rather than to overpower the story.
The characters in this novel are quite well developed. Not only are they interesting in their own rights, but they also fit within the stereotypes for the time period. I also appreciate that some of the characters were at war with themselves, weighing their desires against what is expected of them. This is something that remains within us, even today, yet is much less pronounced now than it was then. The interactions between these unique characters brought to light just how much ‘scandal’ has changed over time.
Not only is this story itself interesting, but it makes you want to journey back in time. It is a heartbreaking story that you can relate to regardless of the expanse of time in between. That said, it’s also one of the happiest and most empowering stories I’ve read in quite a while.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review
dreamer2229
Posted May 1, 2013
Funny, sad, eye-opening, all these apply to this novel. I have always heard about how bad hospitals were especially for soldiers during the early American wars, but I never really thought about how veterans from other wars faired. I realize that this is not the central theme of the book, but this glimpse into history is only one aspect of this novel and shows how well the author knows her subject.
I laughed at how the heroine fought against the constraints on women, especially women in the peerage, because I often think that would have been me. The story also reduced me to tears at times.
The characters were well rounded and “real” in this story, so that I almost felt as though I was watching a younger cousin or relative live through the story. The rich landscape of the fall of Napoleon, the end of the war, and its impact on the characters was fascinating.
I give this story 4.5 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
Overview
What’s the harm in a little white lie?
Especially when it could carry so much good—a new life for a wounded soldier, catharsis after long years of war, and an opportunity for lady composer Olivia Delancey to finally hear her music played in public.
Newspaper publisher Will Marsh refuses to compound the sins of his father’s generation by taking money to print propaganda.