THE SEDUCTION OF SCANDAL by Cathy Maxwell
08/11 - HarperCollins Publishers - Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Are we all divided personalities – the one we show and the one we really are?

You might convince Lady Corinne to do any number of things she might not like but no one was going to make her marry that horrid man regardless of his title or incredible lineage, the man was a nightmare. Both fathers have big plans for this merger, I mean marriage and Corinne pleading to beg off is soundly rejected. So Corinne decides to step out of the comfort zone she lives in and moves to a place no one could find her, at least until after the wedding date passes. What she never expected on this journey was to be shot, saved and figures out whom the notorious highway the Black Thorn was. When you go past safe and straight into reckless behavior, you never know what is going to happen.

Corinne is having trouble digesting all this information because the Black Thorn may be a noble thief that steals to provide for the poor but he is also the Reverend Mr. William Norwich who just happens to be the foster son of her potential future father-in-law and the man that owns the property the Black Thorn is stealing. Never one to let any situation not be used to her advantage, Corinne decides to hide out at Will’s parsonage. Now this is only until the wedding date passes and in exchange for she will keep Will’s secret, this is a win-win right? Will is not so sure her pretending to be his cousin is going to work out and while she believes God brought her to Will, he is sure the deity came from hell, the direction he is now setting a course for.

Upholding the word of the Lord and finding answers that lead him on a righteous path has been at times a test for Will’s moral compass. Will knows that at some point, he is going to have to answer for his sins but will the judgment come from a higher power or his foster father a man Will owes his existence to or so the story goes. But turning Corinne out is not going to happen because her belief that he is his salvation is stronger than his doubts and his ability to resist her is weakening. The religious life has taught Will strength and control but he is not sure there is enough of it in him to stop him from taking the love and tenderness that Corinne is offering even though the last thing he feels he deserves is her love.

When the dark secrets come out about everyone’s misdeed it is going to take more than faith and good will to get through this sea of deception. But Will and Corinne are meant to be together, work for the good of his church, and start a life together enjoying the passion of a religious life and some good spiritual awakening after the lights go out!

Cathy Maxwell always delivers on an original storyline, fresh characters, incredible twists, and fascinating turns reader do not expect. This book hits on every one of those ideas and adds in a few feisty women, some heart wrenching moments of sadness, startling revelations and in the end you know there is some higher source at work here to great such a work of romantic literature.