The Year of Living Scandalously (The Secrets of Hadley Green, #1) by Julia London

Nov 03, 2010 Laurie (Bitten by Paranormal Romance) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

A scandalously good mystery with an added scandal adventure, who can resist a great scandal, not me;) I enjoyed the story, but it did tend to be slow along with the romance. The last chapter left me saying “I freaking want the next book NOW!!” This is not a sexual tension hot romance, the romance builds as you read actually these two don’t really get along well until past the middle of the book. I liked the surprises and the setting, I think it a good start to a series.

Keria swaps places with Li...more

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Oct 02, 2010 Yan rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Year of Living Scandalously (the cover itself is quite scandalously enough for me!) was a tale of star-crossed lovers whose passion reaches the stars. Nope. I’m lying to you. It’s actually about a girl turned woman whose beauty and charm attracts man out of their wits and an earl who loves horses. The rape and suicide of a childhood friend leave them both haunted and in hatred/guilt in each other’s presence.

But when Lily, Kiera’s cousin, finds herself a new title her desire to travel abroad...more The Year of Living Scandalously (the cover itself is quite scandalously enough for me!) was a tale of star-crossed lovers whose passion reaches the stars. Nope. I’m lying to you. It’s actually about a girl turned woman whose beauty and charm attracts man out of their wits and an earl who loves horses. The rape and suicide of a childhood friend leave them both haunted and in hatred/guilt in each other’s presence.

But when Lily, Kiera’s cousin, finds herself a new title her desire to travel abroad overcomes her sense of duty and enlists the help of Keira to maintain her newest property. Keira finds Ashwood barely hanging on—a clear cry from when it held the grandest party of all time. There, she runs into Declan who plans to purchase a fine horse from the estate and cajoles him into helping her. Keira is determined that Ashwood stay afloat despite a new neighbor who is out to get the family and discovered what truly happened to the family jewels that led to one woman’s death and her cousin’s sudden arrival to her home.

Keira may find more than she ever bargained for.

The first thing that made me pause and think about the novel was the prologue and epilogue. See, they are both told in Lily’s perspective while the rest of the novel is told through Keira. It was such an odd match that I had to look up the synopsis of the novel to figure what the novel focuses on. The prologue was a much longer chapter than I expected and set things up more so for the sequel rather than this installment. It set the ball rolling for The Year of Living Scandalously but doesn’t play the biggest role in the romancing of Declan and Keira.

Declan and Keira are well suited for each other: both being born in Ireland, wanting to travel and experience life, and a strong liking to horses. They are both also like horses or rather mules—stubborn, head strong, doesn’t exactly think things through carefully before acting and reacting. Going with their gut instincts. Oddly enough, this is an appealing characteristic to the novel as the novel is direct about the plot while amusing as the two butt heads.

The novel ends roughly, which leaves plenty of tidying up to do in the sequel for Lily as she comes back from her trip. (less)

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Jan 02, 2011 Robin (RBBR) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-read-win, historical-romance, not-reading-entire-series

On one hand this is a good book and on the other I'm finding it highly annoying. The good hand is pretty much what makes any book good, likable characters who are attracted to each other but try not to be for various reasons and toss in a mystery of some kind such as the one this one has; which is an innocent man killed in 1792 (its now 1808. The annoying part is that Declan (the Hero) keeps wanting to know why Keira (the Heroine) is pretending to be her cousin Lily but he won't allow her to exp...more On one hand this is a good book and on the other I'm finding it highly annoying. The good hand is pretty much what makes any book good, likable characters who are attracted to each other but try not to be for various reasons and toss in a mystery of some kind such as the one this one has; which is an innocent man killed in 1792 (its now 1808. The annoying part is that Declan (the Hero) keeps wanting to know why Keira (the Heroine) is pretending to be her cousin Lily but he won't allow her to explain. Declan also wants to know why she denied something that happened in Ireland a number of years ago but won't ask her. I figure eventually they'll have a nice chat about everything but the fact I mentioned earlier is really annoying. If you ask someone a question you should let them answer it.

When they finally had their conversation he listened to her and although it was a page turner before its definitely one now. They're currently trying to clear Scott's (the possibly innocent man from 1792) name. They've also had a few other hot encounters. This book is definitely a must read at least in my humble opinion.

I finished the book this morning and loved it the ending is really good and the last chapter is more of a teaser chapter for the next book then an ending to the book but that's okay because the next to last chapter is an ending to the book. Hope that made sense.

Sometimes we make mistakes and do the wrong thing for the right reason but if we have people who love us and understand us then it usually all turns out okay. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying its okay to do bad things if our intentions are good but its always nice to have someone in your corner no matter what. Another thing is Declan did not plan to marry because he felt it would force him to stay home and he likes to travel. Well, sometimes we not only get to have cake but we get to eat it and it comes with ice cream. Keira and Declan not only get their HEA but get to follow their dreams with a kindred spirit.

A book definitely worth reading IMHO (less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Anne Breslin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-audiobooks

Narrator: Justine Eyre
Audiobook Length: 10 hours 23 minutes, unabridged

Performance Rating: 4 stars
I've listened to several books narrated by Justine Eyre and I think this is her best performance. Ms. Eyre captures the humor in the dialogue and her reading in this book is more nuanced and less melodramatic than her other readings. The Irish accents of the lead characters are charming and the timing and timbre of the male and female leads are perfect. The large and varied cast of characters in Had...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I actually really liked this book. It took me a while to warm up to it because Declan is really contrary sometimes, and I'm just not a huge fan of the whole I'm acting like I hate you because secretly I can't resist you. Anyhow in spite of this he actually ends up being so charming and wonderful and he says things that are so sweet and wonderful.

*SPOILER ALERT!*

My favorite of which is on pg 316 I want to say, where he asks Keira what she's afraid of and she says she's afraid of him, and then he...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Joelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this one! A new series is off to a great start. Cousins plot together. Lily has just become Countess of Ashwood but had plans to go to Italy. She convinces her cousin Keira to go in her place and run things while she is aboard. But, things are happening quickly when Keira arrives and she was mistakenly taken for the current Countess but, with trouble brewing she had no choice but to take the role of her cousin Lily until she arrives. The place is in shamble and chaos is everywhere but Ke...more I loved this one! A new series is off to a great start. Cousins plot together. Lily has just become Countess of Ashwood but had plans to go to Italy. She convinces her cousin Keira to go in her place and run things while she is aboard. But, things are happening quickly when Keira arrives and she was mistakenly taken for the current Countess but, with trouble brewing she had no choice but to take the role of her cousin Lily until she arrives. The place is in shamble and chaos is everywhere but Keira starts to set things to right. But, here plot it seems is going to go a rye before she even gets started. She meets Declan O’Connor, Earl of Donnelly a childhood friend and he knows she is not Lily the new Countess. She sets her sites on Declan to convince him to go along with her plan and in the meantime do some sleuthing to find out who stole the Ashwood jewel as Keira is convinced the man hanged for the crime is not guilty. The sparks fly between Keira and Declan they have a past together and it is not all love at first sight more like hate. These two were so cute together seeing there love hate relationship. Keira's quick whit made her funny and the handsome Declan seemed to be no match for Keira as a girl she thought herself in love and never seemed to stop. There exchanges had me laughing from time to time. Keira always seemed to be so driven to protect the charade she was playing constantly fretting about when her cousin will arrive getting herself involved in a horse race and trying to solve a mystery about the missing jewels and falling head over heel in love with a handsome lord making it her most grand adventure to date and she has had plenty. This book was just a cute romance all around found myself laughing a lot and it was nice to see the love between these couple grow knowing it was doomed in the end only hoping for a miracle to reunite a couple who so long to be together. And a mystery stranger causing havoc in there lives but he seems to be there to stay, plaguing the new Countess of Ashwood and the adventure continues to still solve the mystery of the missing jewels.(less)

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Sep 29, 2010 Bookaholics rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Year of Living Scandalously by Julia London
Historical Romance -Oct 19th 2010
4 stars

The Year of Living Scandalously debuts a new Regency series by Julia London. The author writes a strong story with enthralling intrigue that kept me in suspense until the last page.

This novel starts out with the mysterious theft of the Countess of Ashwood’s famed ruby jewels. Young and mischievous Lily, the niece of the Countess is eager to point who she thinks may be connected to the theft and results in...more The Year of Living Scandalously by Julia London
Historical Romance -Oct 19th 2010
4 stars

The Year of Living Scandalously debuts a new Regency series by Julia London. The author writes a strong story with enthralling intrigue that kept me in suspense until the last page.

This novel starts out with the mysterious theft of the Countess of Ashwood’s famed ruby jewels. Young and mischievous Lily, the niece of the Countess is eager to point who she thinks may be connected to the theft and results in the hanging of the thief. But did her testimony result in an innocent man’s death? And where are the jewels? No on has been able to find them. Lily is sent to live with her other aunt in Ireland and discovers that the beautiful and vivacious Countess has tragically died.

Many years later Lily is now an adult and discovers that the old earl has died and she has inherited the estate. But dark memories of Ashwood haunt her and she begs her cousin Keira to represent her while she goes to Italy on a prior commitment.

Keira is tired of Ireland and wants excitement before settling down with a stodgy husband who is ‘good’ for her. But when she goes to London to represent Lily, she finds the estate in disrepair, unhappy tenants and a mountain of bills! Well meaning Keira is desperate to ’fix’ the situation until Lily arrives and finds herself masquerading as the Countess! But when her young crush, the Earl of Donnelly, (Declan O’Connor) arrives, she knows she must confess her situation to him before he blows her cover. Unfortunately, Declan and Keira have a past and her young escapades cost him dearly. He wants nothing to do with her but finds the beautiful Keira has matured and he is unaccountably jealous of other men! Their lives are complicated when Keira asks Declan to help her discover the mystery behind the missing rubies but they both uncover more than they expect.

The Year of Living Scandalously is an easy read but what I enjoyed most was the author’s skillfully plotted mystery. I wanted to know more about the poor Countess who was so unhappy in her marriage. The story started out with a lot of promise but I never felt the chemistry between the main characters was as real as the author’s prior books. Keira is a headstrong character who has a good heart and tries her best, but I also found her a bit clingy and immature.

Declan’s character is very realistic and human. Initially he does not respect or really seem to like Keira. He is definitely rough around the edges, and I kept wishing he would be more caring. I had expected or hoped his character would change a bit more in the story. My main difficulty is that I didn’t like the way he treated Keira. It is true Keira gets into one after another misadventure but most heroes handle these situations more gallantly. I must admit that her escapades made for a complex plot and I thrilled at the mystery. But I kept wishing her mishaps had been written more comically/funny rather than serious.

This was a wonderful suspense story that readers will enjoy. I could not stop reading because I wanted to know what happened to the missing rubies. However, I felt the author did not take advantage of the misadventures in the novel and made the story a bit more lighthearted and fun to balance the dark mystery.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

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Jul 12, 2011 Kasey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, library, irishmen, period-pieces-historical-romances, regency

I did enjoy this book and it was a good set up for the next book in the series. It has a mystery romance going on. I was hoping for a little more, but it fell a little short of my expectations. The first half I just kept waiting for something to happen, while I kept reading and didn't feel the need to put the book down I felt like nothing REALLY happened. Our leads barely tolerate each other and could have used a little bit more of something for well past the first half of the book. So the roman...more

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Sep 11, 2011 nurmawati djuhawan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: hr, buku-eng, romance, mystery

ceritanya ttg keira hannigan, ce irish yang datang ke inggris buat gantiin sepupunya, lily boudine yag lagi pergi ke italia ....
lily tiba2 mendapat gelar countess of ashwood di inggris....tapi krn lily lagi fall in love sama seorang co yg akan ke italia, dia pergi jadi pendamping ibu co itu ke italia dan minta sepupunya, keira buat ke inggris...
keira yg awalnya ke ingrris cuma buat mewakilkan lily, karena ada hal medesak akhirnya terpaksa ngaku kalo dialah sang contess, lily boudine...
soalnya es...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Elle rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. It's been ages since I read a book that harked back to the old serial novels, and I enjoyed this one. It has a definite, very frustrating cliffhanger ending, so while I recommend it highly, you might want to snap it up and then hold it to read towards the end of the year, so you won't have to wait nigh on a year until the next installment!

I'll include the basics here, just because I'll want to remember them 9 months from now when I FINALLY get to read the next one! Be warned, though, this is pro...more It's been ages since I read a book that harked back to the old serial novels, and I enjoyed this one. It has a definite, very frustrating cliffhanger ending, so while I recommend it highly, you might want to snap it up and then hold it to read towards the end of the year, so you won't have to wait nigh on a year until the next installment!

I'll include the basics here, just because I'll want to remember them 9 months from now when I FINALLY get to read the next one! Be warned, though, this is probably way too much SPOILER info if you haven't yet read the book, so skip this, then maybe come back and read after you've finished it, just to see if you can add to the questions left hanging.

The story actually does a lot of nit-picky things wrong, and I noticed those things along the way, but the mystery was so good I didn't care. It's a bit jarring at first, because it begins from the POV of an eight-year-old girl named Lily, an orphan and the ward of the Count and Countess of Ashford. Lily's innocent observations tell us that her guardian and aunt Althea is having an affair (though Lily herself doesn't understand this), and that an innocent man has been convicted, with Lily's innocent testimony as help. The man is hanged for theft, leaving behind a widow and orphaned son. Lily is then sent away to live with another aunt in Ireland, and we learn that Aunt Althea has killed herself.

Some fifteen years later, Lily is preparing to go to Italy as a companion, and her cousin Keira, who looks a bit like her and is about the same age, watches with some jealousy as she packs. It's easy to assume we're in Keira's POV so that we can see Lily from an objective POV, but don't let it fool you - this story is actually about Keira! Lily learns that her aunt's husband died suddenly, and as the nearest relation, even though she is female, she is now Countess of Ashford in her own right (I'm not versed enough in how titles pass to be sure this is sufficiently researched, nor am I quite sure how the title ends up falling to a very young, unmarried woman who does not seem related by blood to the recently deceased Earl, but I kind of read those pages hurriedly and may have missed some points that made it make sense). Anyway, she's needed back in Ashford directly as there are matters requiring her attention.

Lily, though, has some uncomfortable memories tied to Ashford, and she wants her Italian getaway before she takes on all that responsibility. Keira finds herself persuaded to go on to Ashford in Lily's stead and tend things in her name for a few months. Problem is, once she gets there, she finds that A) her similarity in appearance to Lily + 15 years passing leave people to assume she is in fact Lily, and B) before she can set them straight, she finds that some of the matters requiring attention are truly urgent, and can only be settled by the countess herself. She ends up letting people believe she is Lily, so that she can handle things. Not too long after, she bumps into some things that lead her to believe that the man who was hanged on Lily's testimony was actually innocent. She decides to protect her friend, who would be devastated by all this, by investigating and if possible, clearing the man's name, before Lily returns.

Enter Declan. He's an old friend of both Lily and Keira, who some years ago got himself caught up in a little conspiracy the girls cooked up, which ended with a friend's death, and he's still bitter, because he was held to blame. He's in Ashford breeding horses, and he wants no part of Keira's latest scheme, but he gets sucked in when he realizes she's meddling in things that could get out of hand. He acts like a complete jerk at first, but he ends up helping out. And, as the story progresses, the predictable happens: His old attraction to Keira fires up again, and he comes upon information that does indeed suggest there was a miscarriage of justice, and a LOT of people knew about it.

Enter Eberlin: Meanwhile, back at the estate, Keira discovers that someone is trying to stir up trouble. Seems a Danish noble named Eberlin has bought the land adjoining Ashford, and he is contesting ownership of the most productive 100 acres of the Ashford estate. He actually has a pretty good claim on this land, but Ashford is already in deep trouble, with debts and other problems that Keira barely knows how to handle. She makes a go of it, though, and suggests some changes, including the restoration of an old mill that had been taken out of service. Eberlin immediately makes clear that he, too, will build a mill that will compete with Ashford's. It's clearer and clearer that his intentions are malicious. For some reason he wants Ashford destroyed, and Keira with it. After a particularly bizarre confrontation, he corners Keira and threatens her with exposure.

And here's where it gets frustrating. Remember, this is Keira's story, not Lily's. This one is all about the growing romance between Declan and Keira. So now, Lily returns, and Keira and Declan are forced to flee England to protect Keira, who may be jailed for the crime of being an Irish Catholic who impersonated an English Countess. From here, we see the romance to its conclusion, then we skip back over the water to dip once more into Lily's head, where we learn Eberlin's true motivation, and with that dastardly confession, which leaves us knowing that Lily and Ashford are TRULY in peril, the story ends! There may as well be a great neon sign at the end saying "to be continued!"

We're left with several mysteries. First, what actually happened to the jewelry that was supposedly stolen? Second, did Aunt Althea really kill herself, or was she murdered? Is it possible Uncle was also murdered? Will the hanged man's name finally be cleared? Why did certain people behave so suspiciously when Keira started asking questions, if the person who threatened them is now dead? And, of course, how many pages of the sequel will it take for Eberlin to stop plotting Lily's ruin, and, against his will, fall in love with her?

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Mar 30, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a great book. I loved it from the beginning. Keira is a wild young Irish girl who is supposed to marry a man she's sure she doesn't love. Lily her English cousin was about to go on holiday until she because a countess. So begins the plot. Instead of Lily going to England she sends Keira in her stead and goes to Italy. Only when Keira gets there the countess is desperately needed so she must assume her Identity. What she finds when she get there is more trouble than she bargained for. Th...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Eve rated it 2 of 5 stars

Enh. Probably wouldn't bother reading it again. Wasn't without its good points, but a lot bugged me that made the overall story hard to enjoy. First of all, there was a very very quick resolution for the couple, which was kind of unsatisfactory; also, the main mystery was left unsolved for another book, I assume? I didn't like that at all. Also, his character was WAY too mad at her for something that wasn't directly either of their faults and held it against her for way too long. Annoying and fr...more

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Nov 20, 2011 penelopewanders rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Not entirely sure why I decided to order this one - probably it was not terribly pricey and I wanted some books to be delivered to my friends' house where I was vacationing so as to have fewer books to transport.
For much of the first part of the book I was doing a bit of teeth gnashing, as it seemed Keira could hardly endeavour to make things worse than she was already doing and the whole situation just seemed too irritating for words. Presumably at some point I did get sucked in because now I'...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Erin Muses rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

My Keira:

My Declan:

So, this book. I liked it; the story was interesting, and I did believe that Keira and Declan really loved each other. However, I just didn't love it. Ms. London's writing is good but not nearly as lyrical as others writing in the genre, which really needs that ebb and flow of words to set the tone. I debated with myself over how to rate it, wanting to give it 3.5 stars but then reminding myself that I don't give half stars because I should just be able to pick one or the ot...more My Keira:

My Declan:

So, this book. I liked it; the story was interesting, and I did believe that Keira and Declan really loved each other. However, I just didn't love it. Ms. London's writing is good but not nearly as lyrical as others writing in the genre, which really needs that ebb and flow of words to set the tone. I debated with myself over how to rate it, wanting to give it 3.5 stars but then reminding myself that I don't give half stars because I should just be able to pick one or the other. Ultimately my opinion comes down more on the 3 side than the 4 side, so here I am.

Keira Hannigan is a Irish beauty who steps in for her cousin, who is supposed to be in two places at one time - in Italy as a companion traveler and in England acting as the countess it has recently been discovered that she is. Unfortunately, soon after Keira steps off the coach at Ashwood (the estate), she realizes that the real countess is needed for leadership and financial assistance to the tenants and so does not correct the assumptions of everyone around her that she is, in fact, her cousin (Lily Boudine, who will be the heroine of the next in the series). She is living this scandal when she happens to meet an Irish neighbor, Declan O'Connor, with whom she has been in love since she was a teenager. He is in England to acquire and breed horses, but he ends up being useful to Keira as she tries to do good for those around her and unravel a mystery surrounding Lily's testimony against a villager fifteen years prior. He gets over his animosity toward her, they become friends, they fall in love, yada yada yada.

And therein lies the heart of my rating - if one can replace much of the plot with a yada yada yada, it cannot be a 4-star read. Of course, that might be why it took me so long to read the book; I just wasn't pulled into it as deeply. I am looking forward to Lily and Tobin's book, though, as the vigor with which he intends to ruin her and Ashwood seems to be insurmountable.(less)

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Oct 12, 2011 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Irish Keira Hannigan takes her cousin’s place in England so Lily can go on a planned trip to Italy, she never expects to be mistaken for Lily and hailed as the new Countess of Ashwood. When she realizes the only way to take care of urgent estate business is to continue the mistaken identity, things just snowball from there. When old acquaintance and neighbor Declan O’Connor, Earl of Donnelly encounters Keira and confronts her on her deception, she embroils him in her problems as she tries t...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Marlene rated it 2 of 5 stars

The story kind of dragged in the middle. The Hero did not act with honor until forced to at the end. Its was OK but I thought Lily would be more understanding at the end. I felt that part was rushed. Keira and Declan were obviously meant for each other, so glad for the happy ending. He was so unforgiving of Keira though out the first half of the book, it took a while for me to warm up to him in rogue mode. I have the next 4 books so I shall read on and see if Lily fares any better with Lord Eber...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Keiras cousin Lily finds herself a duchess through inheritance but she doesn´t want to give up on her, much planned, trip to Italy. So Keira gets persuaded into going in her place to see to the maintenance and prepare for Lily´s arrival.
When Keira arrives, she´s mistaken for the duchess and pressing matters makes it impossible not to keep up the appearence. As luck will have it, a childhood friend is not far away. Declan is living near by and does what ever he can to help her. Old mysteries and...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, series-trilogies, regency-romance

Normally, I rave about Julia London, but this one, it just didn't really do anything for me. But that doesn't mean that I didn't see the potential for the characters and plot for the next book in this series. This one felt mostly like a "leading up to..." book. And well, honestly, I wasn't all that excited about the hero and heroine (Declan and Keira). It just felt like something was missing. I can't quite put my finger on what though, but I'm leaning towards not enough of a connection between t...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Jallioop rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ending sucks. Book should have stuck with Keira and Declan's story - I wanted a one-year-later epilogue on what happened with them. Yes Lily needs to be there in the beginning, and she has to come back so that Keira's assumed identity is discovered, but other than that, leave her story for book 2. Then book 2 could tell the whole thing from Lily's point of view once she comes back. As it is, Keira and Declan's HEA is given short-shrift, and we have a tiny piece of Lily as a countess that ends ve...more

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Nov 23, 2010 Slavena rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-heroine, historical-romance

It is not as good as the other works I have read but I still love Julia London’s style, her characters intrigue me, the story was very good imo, however it was merely a part of the whole picture, I would have liked to have Lili’s story handy because that will be the one with the answers, unfortunately it will not be out till 2012  I hoped to see it latter this year or early next. I would have forgotten all about reading the follow up by then /sigh. Still I am addicted now to this author and wil...more

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Apr 29, 2013 Junebugindeed rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book because I've enjoyed Julia London's books in the patst. I'm also continually on the lookout for a new series to keep me going until the next book on my list is published. I probably won't be continuing with this series.

This book is well written and has an interesting premise, which is why I gave this book a two.

However reading a book that makes me miserable with dread is not a fun 3-4 hours. The lies pile upon lies and it is clear early on that there is not goi...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Jamie Heustess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ms. London starts out her "Secrets of Hadley Green" series with an amusing read that has mix-ups and second chances galore! The Year of Living Scandalously begins with the sad and painful history of the Earl and Countess of Ashwood. Jewels stolen, an innocent man accused by an eight year old, and a series of deaths have left a tangled web of heartbreak for the residents of Hadley Green. Little Lily Boudine testified against the local woodcarver, accused of stealing the legendary Ashwood jewels,...more Ms. London starts out her "Secrets of Hadley Green" series with an amusing read that has mix-ups and second chances galore! The Year of Living Scandalously begins with the sad and painful history of the Earl and Countess of Ashwood. Jewels stolen, an innocent man accused by an eight year old, and a series of deaths have left a tangled web of heartbreak for the residents of Hadley Green. Little Lily Boudine testified against the local woodcarver, accused of stealing the legendary Ashwood jewels, and he was subsequently put to death. To keep her safe from the evil Earl of Ashwood, she was sent to live with her Irish relatives. Years later on the eve of a trip to Italy, Lily finds she is to inherit all of Ashwood as the old Earl has died. She concocts an innocent escapade in which her cousin, Kiera, would travel ahead to the estate manage the affairs until she arrives back from Italy. Upon Kieras' arrival, she is mistaken for Lily and finds the only way to help the ailing estate is to “become” Lily. When she tries to raise money for the floundering property by selling off horse stock, she runs into Declan, Earl of Donnelly. These childhood neighbors face off while trying to come terms with a tragedy which has left them pitted against each other. What follows is a series of mix-ups and realizations that love always seems to find a way.

I really enjoyed the back history of these two characters. The young teenage romance between the two was sweet and just what you would hope your own would be. This quickly soured when a young lady of their mutual acquaintance was found dead after both had lied about being in each other's presence. A huge wedge is driven between the two as they both have a huge amount of guilt that they carry in the heart at the part they each played in the tragedy. When they find each other again, the sparks are definitely still there. The feelings they experience and show to the reader are palpable and just drag you in.

The personalities of Kiera and Declan are suited perfectly to each other. Kiera is the feisty, take no prisoners, live life to the fullest young lady we all wish we could be. She takes on tremendous responsibility with great intentions, but finds herself swamped with more than she can handle. Declan is the hero that we all pattern our husbands after, or at least wish could be ours. He is patient and puts up with Kiera's antics as long as she isn't a danger to herself. He doesn't let her take herself too seriously and is there to pick up the pieces when she does. Their desperation when Kiera has been threatened with exposure as an imposter is real. The team work and love for each other shine through, though neither wants to be the first to admit it.

All in all The Year of Living Scandalously is a good read, one that has left me anticipating the follow up books!

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Jun 14, 2011 Amanda Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

First thing’s first – I love it when a romance novel spans over a good amount of time. Nothing grates on my nerves more when a story involves two people falling totally batshit crazy in love/lust with each other when they’ve only known each other for a few days and then GET MARRIED at the end of the story. The Year of Living Scandalously definitely takes its time developing its story, and it’s wonderful. The relationships between all the characters really blossom, and by the end of the book you...more First thing’s first – I love it when a romance novel spans over a good amount of time. Nothing grates on my nerves more when a story involves two people falling totally batshit crazy in love/lust with each other when they’ve only known each other for a few days and then GET MARRIED at the end of the story. The Year of Living Scandalously definitely takes its time developing its story, and it’s wonderful. The relationships between all the characters really blossom, and by the end of the book you are really invested in their stories.

Keira Hannigan takes up her cousin’s offer to switch roles. Lily tells her it will only be for a few months, at the most, and that no one will think anything of it. Keira jumps at the chance, desperate to stretch her legs and get away from an unwanted suitor. Unbeknown to Keira, the estate of Ashwood has a serious load of baggage that needs immediate attention, and Keira, being a “I can totally fix this” kind of person, decides to meet the challenges head on. In the process the residents of Ashwood mistake Keira for her cousin, a mistake she opts not to correct. Before long she comes face to face with a man from her past, Declan O’Connor, and he knows instantly who she is (and in turn who she isn’t). There’s a good deal of name calling..but imagine it in a lovely brogue. With a bit of convincing on Keira’a part, Declan agrees to let her continue her charade.

We learn that Keira and Declan have a past, a past that involves the loss of a shared friend. Both of them hold themselves responsible for their friend’s death, and The Year of Living Scandalously is mostly the story of the two of them dealing with their emotional baggage not only with themselves but toward each other. It was refreshing to watch their relationship go from bitter to rich.

And of course, the driving subplot to all this is a gothic tale of stolen jewels, the conviction of a possibly innocent man, and the mad Count and his Countess involved in scandalous affairs. There’s a mystery afoot, and together Keira and Declan work to unravel the truth from the fiction.

What I liked about this book: It felt dark and Gothic to me, which I personally love. And I really loved the development of the characters and their relationship toward each other.

What I didn’t like: Some details are a bit far fetched to be believed – how could no one but Declan realize Keira wasn’t actually Lily? If Keira had no knowledge on how to run an estate how on earth did she manage to pull it off?

Rating: B++(less)

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Jul 22, 2012 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: london-julia

I loved this book, much more than I expected even half way through. I felt all the emotions that Keira must have felt, from elation to her discovered love of Declan to heartbreak with the circumstances that necessitated their separation.

To summarize, Keira takes the place of her English cousin, Lily, who has inherited an estate and is now a countess. Lily had lived with Keira's family for 15 years in Ireland. She was forced to leave Ashwood, her aunt's estate, because of a scandal involving the...more

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Feb 15, 2011 AH rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Historical Romance Lovers

Shelves: first-reads, first-in-series, historical, own, zzread-feb2011, romance, mystery

There’s so much I loved about The Year of Living Scandalously. First of all, it is a historical novel complete with the beautiful gowns, the frilly hats, and all of the accoutrements of the elite society. It is also a romance novel with a very slow buildup. The Year of Living Scandalously is also a mystery that kept me guessing right up to the cliffhanger ending.

The novel begins and ends with Lily Bodine’s story. When Lily was 8 years old, there was a theft of the family jewels at Ashwood estat...more There’s so much I loved about The Year of Living Scandalously. First of all, it is a historical novel complete with the beautiful gowns, the frilly hats, and all of the accoutrements of the elite society. It is also a romance novel with a very slow buildup. The Year of Living Scandalously is also a mystery that kept me guessing right up to the cliffhanger ending.

The novel begins and ends with Lily Bodine’s story. When Lily was 8 years old, there was a theft of the family jewels at Ashwood estate. Lily saw a man escaping on horseback. Due to her testimony, this man is sentenced to death. Later on, Lily is sent to live with her Irish cousin Keira Hannigan. The rest of the novel focuses on Keira.

Flash forward 16 years and Lily has been notified that she is now the sole heir to Ashwood. She is to go to Ashwood and become the Countess. Lily has other plans and wants to go to Italy. She sends Kiera to take care of the estate until Lily’s return. When Keira arrives at Ashwood, she is mistaken for the Countess. Keira decides to go along with the deception, believing that she is helping out Lily and not thinking of the repercussions of her actions.

To further complicate matters, she is recognized by a childhood friend who calls her on her deception. Declan O’Connor and Keira share a past event that scarred them. Keira’s childhood friend Eve was raped and beaten and subsequently committed suicide. Both Declan and Keira share the guilt that they were unable to prevent Eve from killing herself. This past event affected their relationship.

I really liked Keira’s character. Keira treated this experience as her “last hurrah” before she would have to marry and settle down. She took on the role of the Countess with an idealistic goal in mind. Keira genuinely believed that she would do good in the area if the estate was restored. Keira worked to repair the estate and to increase its profits. She also became a patron of the local orphanage, raising funds to help out the children. Keira becomes the focal point of the community and has many gentlemen courting her. I enjoyed how Keira’s character developed throughout the story.

Now, Declan was delicious. At first I didn’t know what to make of his character. I found him a little pompous and condescending. I didn’t like how he didn’t even want to listen to Keira, he just threatened to expose her.
The romance aspect of this book has an excruciatingly slow build up (in a good way). At times, I felt like screaming at the characters that they should just get together already. Declan and Keira were made for each other and this is evidenced in the way they worked together to solve the mystery of the jewel theft.

Overall, a very pleasant read. My only disappointment was the cliffhanger ending with no sequel in sight. I look forward to reading the next book when it becomes available.

**This book was won in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway**
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Jul 13, 2011 .þµŋψà. [Punya Reviews...] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: julia-london, brilliant-cover, no-no-no-noooo, ewww-wtf-was-that

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book. This one's got 3 parts.

I thought Declan would get his book as another in Scandalous series, since he was Nathan, Jack and Grayson's friend. But, it seems like it's a new series!

Really Declan! Taproom maid, scullary maid????!! Argghhhh *shudder* ... I mean I know things are like that but I hell don't like to know about it so ... straight on the face! I mean I like you, I might like you a lottttt more yet. You're h...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought that this book was fun to read. It had plenty of laugh out loud moments and kept my interest. I am excited to read the next book. Keira Hannigan, think, made the book enjoyable. Her attitude towards Declan and Declan's attitude towards Keira was the greatest. I also enjoyed how I got to see the relationship and feelings evolve from nothing to something. Most books, the characters hate each other and then all of a sudden love each other. This was a very nice change compared to most book...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Lynne Tull rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-romance

I am not really fond of stories where the heroines switch places. There seems to be a weak point in the story-line that allows for this to happen. This story is one of those! However, the characters and the underlying story are interesting. This book is the first of the Hadley Green series. There is some mystery to be solved and will probably be solved in the last book. The next two books will be published back to back in 2012. I do want to know how it comes out so I will stick with it.

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Mar 04, 2011 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

The first 1/3 of the book was slow paced and rather difficult to get into. The pace picked up in the middle and I loved the story. The romance between Declan and Keira is not very typical of most historical romances. There's little to no sap. The characters do not soften up and become passive and different from the exciting individuals that attracted our attention in the first place at any point. Obviously the love between then changes them some, and thats mostly in how they regard each other. I...more

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Apr 27, 2011 Scarlett Barnhill rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. I related a lot to the heroine, who has trouble thinking before she acts, and being stubborn, annoys the hero a little. I am glad to report that depsite the face that our heroine irritates the hero, their chemistry is through the roof. One thing I can't stand is a forced-sounding romance. This one flowed naturally. The characters are wonderful, and I am looking foward to reading the next one.

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The Year of Living Scandalously (The Secrets of Hadley Green #1)

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