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Portrait of a Scandal: A Regency Historical Romance
HE HAS TAKEN HER TO HEAVEN, HELL AND BACK AGAIN...
Her heart and hope long since shattered, Amethyst Dalby is content with her life as an independent woman. With wealth of her own, and no one to answer to, she is free to live as she pleases.
Until a trip to Paris throws her into contact with the one man who still has a hold over her—the bitter but still devastatingly sensual Nathan Harcourt! Living as an artist, this highborn gentleman has been brought low by scandal—and he is determined to show Amethyst that life is much more fun if you walk on the dark side....
"A beautiful, poignant, sensual story." —RT Book Reviews on A Countess by Christmas
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2014
9 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Annie Burrows
184 books311 followersI've been published by Mills & Boon since 2007..but I'd been making up stories in my head for as long as I can remember. It was a long walk home from school, and there were no ipods in those days to keep you amused! When I wasn't daydreaming, I had my nose stuck in a book. My parents used to take me to the library every Saturday, until I was old enough to get there on my own, and my house was always full of books.
During school holidays, the whole family loved to visit stately homes and castles. As soon as we got home, my older sister and I would either dress up as lords and ladies, and romp around the garden, or, if it was raining, retreat to our bedroom where we would draw intricately detailed plans of our very own imaginary stately home, complete with secret tunnels, dungeons, and usually, a maze in the extensive grounds.
When I was old enough to go to university, I studied English literature, with Philosophy. I was not sure what I wanted to do after that, but meeting a handsome student of maths, who was the owner of a very powerful motorbike helped me make up my mind. Reader, I married him.
For many years I felt it was important to stay at home to raise our two children, but one day, when the youngest had gone to senior school, I began to wonder if all those stories I made up to occupy my mind whilst attending to mundane chores, would interest anyone else.
I started to write some of them down, and eventually decided that one of them was "deep" enough to merit attention from publishers. It took me almost two years to complete, mainly because I kept tearing it up and starting all over again. And having to keep going out to work to help pay for school fees, then university tuition, slowed progress down as well.
Needless to say, this masterpiece was rejected by every single publisher I sent it to, but by this time, writing had become an addiction.
Four more stories got rejected, before Mills & Boon bought "His Cinderella Bride", a regency romance.
I do have some other interests, besides writing! I love spending time pottering in my garden. And recently I've taken up ballroom dancing as a way to try and keep fit (and keep the romance alive in my marriage!)
During school holidays, the whole family loved to visit stately homes and castles. As soon as we got home, my older sister and I would either dress up as lords and ladies, and romp around the garden, or, if it was raining, retreat to our bedroom where we would draw intricately detailed plans of our very own imaginary stately home, complete with secret tunnels, dungeons, and usually, a maze in the extensive grounds.
When I was old enough to go to university, I studied English literature, with Philosophy. I was not sure what I wanted to do after that, but meeting a handsome student of maths, who was the owner of a very powerful motorbike helped me make up my mind. Reader, I married him.
For many years I felt it was important to stay at home to raise our two children, but one day, when the youngest had gone to senior school, I began to wonder if all those stories I made up to occupy my mind whilst attending to mundane chores, would interest anyone else.
I started to write some of them down, and eventually decided that one of them was "deep" enough to merit attention from publishers. It took me almost two years to complete, mainly because I kept tearing it up and starting all over again. And having to keep going out to work to help pay for school fees, then university tuition, slowed progress down as well.
Needless to say, this masterpiece was rejected by every single publisher I sent it to, but by this time, writing had become an addiction.
Four more stories got rejected, before Mills & Boon bought "His Cinderella Bride", a regency romance.
I do have some other interests, besides writing! I love spending time pottering in my garden. And recently I've taken up ballroom dancing as a way to try and keep fit (and keep the romance alive in my marriage!)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 7, 2014
This one, provided by the publisher through netgalley, was a complete surprise to me. I'm not a huge fan of the lovers-from-the-past-who-get-back-together trope. I always find it a bit uninspiring, and a bit too angsty. Why don't they just walk away and get on with their lives, for heaven's sake? So, really for this trope to work for me, it's got to have something else going for it, quite frankly.
This one had two fabulous characters combined with lovely writing which made me (almost) forget that it was one of my least favorite tropes.
The hero and heroine are probably too of the least perfect characters you could think of. They are both selfish, proud, vengeful and hot-tempered. And they stay that way. No, no impossibly perfect character developments here. They change just enough to accommodate each other, but the heroine is still horribly prickly, and the hero too easy to give up.
To me, they represent a really credible pair of people, and I loved it. It did make me question why romances always have to err on the side of perfect characters. Really, why should difficult people not find love and happiness?
So, a wonderful surprise. 4 stars. I really liked it.
This one had two fabulous characters combined with lovely writing which made me (almost) forget that it was one of my least favorite tropes.
The hero and heroine are probably too of the least perfect characters you could think of. They are both selfish, proud, vengeful and hot-tempered. And they stay that way. No, no impossibly perfect character developments here. They change just enough to accommodate each other, but the heroine is still horribly prickly, and the hero too easy to give up.
To me, they represent a really credible pair of people, and I loved it. It did make me question why romances always have to err on the side of perfect characters. Really, why should difficult people not find love and happiness?
So, a wonderful surprise. 4 stars. I really liked it.
November 30, 2013
A lovely historical romance. Portrait of Scandal was an enjoyable read. I had my issues with it, but I still liked it.
Amethyst and Nathan were sweethearts years ago and they had intended to get married. Until Nathan's father decided that he didn't approve of the marriage and crafted a series of lies sent through the perfect vessel (one of Nathans' closest and most trusted friends) to ruin the relationship. Nathan believed them, left Amethyst, and ended up marrying someone else. Amethyst was left alone and bitter and stayed by herself. She took over her aunt's business, where her also scorned aunt fostered her hatred of Nathan (and men in general). Eventually, they meet again in Paris and all the secrets, emotions, and lies come flooding back. And, so the drama began...
Amethyst was an okay heroine. She was independent and strong. But, she was my main issue with the book. I understood where her bitterness came from, but she let it turn her into a downright mean person. She was shrewish and unfair, determined to see bad in every man, even the ones that were good people. She let it take over her life and it really annoyed me. Especially when she let her bitterness blind her and almost lose her last chance at true happiness. Over the course of the book, she softened and realized what she had let herself become. She was able to turn herself around and become a nicer person. But, it was too late to save the book entirely. I was okay with her character, but I didn't love her.
Nathan, on the other hand, I loved from the beginning. He was so sweet and wonderful and I totally adored him. Once he realized that the lies he believed all those years ago were, in fact, lies, he was determined to win Amethyst over. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was okay. Even with Amethyst's reluctance, the emotions from all those years ago were still there and they just grew strong as they got to know each other again, which I thought was sweet. And, the heat factor was off the charts. We're talking about years of unfulfilled lust. It was super hot when it finally happened. I thought they were lovely together.
The plot was okay. I wasn't really into the first half of the book, because that was when Amethyst was at her most stubborn. But, something (Nathan) kept me reading and, during the second half, I began to really enjoy the book. I ended up enjoying the story and I thought the ending was lovely.
Portrait of Scandal was a lovely historical romance. I had my issues with it, but I still enjoyed it and I ended up liking it. It was a wonderful story of a second chance at true love. Lovers of romance, I don't know that I would outright recommend this book, but it definitely is worth checking out.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Amethyst and Nathan were sweethearts years ago and they had intended to get married. Until Nathan's father decided that he didn't approve of the marriage and crafted a series of lies sent through the perfect vessel (one of Nathans' closest and most trusted friends) to ruin the relationship. Nathan believed them, left Amethyst, and ended up marrying someone else. Amethyst was left alone and bitter and stayed by herself. She took over her aunt's business, where her also scorned aunt fostered her hatred of Nathan (and men in general). Eventually, they meet again in Paris and all the secrets, emotions, and lies come flooding back. And, so the drama began...
Amethyst was an okay heroine. She was independent and strong. But, she was my main issue with the book. I understood where her bitterness came from, but she let it turn her into a downright mean person. She was shrewish and unfair, determined to see bad in every man, even the ones that were good people. She let it take over her life and it really annoyed me. Especially when she let her bitterness blind her and almost lose her last chance at true happiness. Over the course of the book, she softened and realized what she had let herself become. She was able to turn herself around and become a nicer person. But, it was too late to save the book entirely. I was okay with her character, but I didn't love her.
Nathan, on the other hand, I loved from the beginning. He was so sweet and wonderful and I totally adored him. Once he realized that the lies he believed all those years ago were, in fact, lies, he was determined to win Amethyst over. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was okay. Even with Amethyst's reluctance, the emotions from all those years ago were still there and they just grew strong as they got to know each other again, which I thought was sweet. And, the heat factor was off the charts. We're talking about years of unfulfilled lust. It was super hot when it finally happened. I thought they were lovely together.
The plot was okay. I wasn't really into the first half of the book, because that was when Amethyst was at her most stubborn. But, something (Nathan) kept me reading and, during the second half, I began to really enjoy the book. I ended up enjoying the story and I thought the ending was lovely.
Portrait of Scandal was a lovely historical romance. I had my issues with it, but I still enjoyed it and I ended up liking it. It was a wonderful story of a second chance at true love. Lovers of romance, I don't know that I would outright recommend this book, but it definitely is worth checking out.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
March 27, 2020
If the length of the book was cut off in half, it would be more enjoyable as half of the book, Amethyst was only berating herself of her past and fed her curiosity towards Nathan, blaming her parents and aunt for making her the woman herself now. It is tiring. I was hoping that we could be enlightened about the details of the past or more about the work Amethyst done now which made her a rich woman.
January 27, 2024
Well written, feels pretty historically accurate. I'm not a fan of dubious consent, hence the harsh score
March 6, 2014
Amethyst Dalby and Nathan Harcourt had met and fallen in love 10 years previously. Through a series of misunderstandings and some deliberate meddling on the part of Nathan's Father, they had parted acrimoniously. Their lives in the ten years following had not been happy, each blaming the other for their misfortunes. As a result they had both become embittered, particularly Amethyst who had turned into a prickly, shrewish, man hating woman.
I enjoy Annie Burrows' beautifully written, romantic novels but to start with I wasn't sure this one was for me. Once Amethyst reached Paris however, where she had travelled to enlarge her business empire, Ms Burrows' witty and humorous prose shone through and I couldn't put this novel down.
Ms. Burrows either knows Paris extensively, or researched it thoroughly, for she certainly took me there. Her story flew from then on and the first meeting after 10 years between Amethyst and Nathan.....by now an apparently impoverished artist.....was electric, and I was hooked. Under the auspice of Nathan painting Amethyst's portrait they embarked on a passionate affair. Nathan's realisation of past mistakes and the crumbling of his bitterness (without giving a big part of the story away) was captivating and sensitively written.
I did sometimes get a bit frustrated with Amethyst's feistiness as Nathan really was a sweetie and didn't always deserve Amethyst's sharp tongue. Although I knew that ultimately Ms. Burrows' would find a way for them to be together, I sometimes wondered how she would achieve this.
Intrigued and interested as to how the author had crafted their happy ending and how all would be resolved, I kept reading avidly, and was not disappointed. The rekindled love and passion for each other was obvious, although Amethyst's fear of being hurt again did threaten their emerging happiness on a few occasions.
I award 4 stars, the dropping of the 5th star mainly due to the slow start, a less well loved author and I would have put it down after the first chapter, but as it was Annie Burrows I kept reading and was pleased I did. A lovely read.
I enjoy Annie Burrows' beautifully written, romantic novels but to start with I wasn't sure this one was for me. Once Amethyst reached Paris however, where she had travelled to enlarge her business empire, Ms Burrows' witty and humorous prose shone through and I couldn't put this novel down.
Ms. Burrows either knows Paris extensively, or researched it thoroughly, for she certainly took me there. Her story flew from then on and the first meeting after 10 years between Amethyst and Nathan.....by now an apparently impoverished artist.....was electric, and I was hooked. Under the auspice of Nathan painting Amethyst's portrait they embarked on a passionate affair. Nathan's realisation of past mistakes and the crumbling of his bitterness (without giving a big part of the story away) was captivating and sensitively written.
I did sometimes get a bit frustrated with Amethyst's feistiness as Nathan really was a sweetie and didn't always deserve Amethyst's sharp tongue. Although I knew that ultimately Ms. Burrows' would find a way for them to be together, I sometimes wondered how she would achieve this.
Intrigued and interested as to how the author had crafted their happy ending and how all would be resolved, I kept reading avidly, and was not disappointed. The rekindled love and passion for each other was obvious, although Amethyst's fear of being hurt again did threaten their emerging happiness on a few occasions.
I award 4 stars, the dropping of the 5th star mainly due to the slow start, a less well loved author and I would have put it down after the first chapter, but as it was Annie Burrows I kept reading and was pleased I did. A lovely read.
March 13, 2014
I think Portrait of a Scandal may have been my first Harlequin Historical, and I very much enjoyed it. I selected this book because it takes place in Paris and it’s about an artist.
Amethyst travels to Paris to make some business connections. She’s a wealthy, independent, single businesswoman, thanks to an aunt who trained her then left her business to her. Amethyst was a disappointment to her family because she didn’t marry well. She fell in love with a man who rejected her and then lost interest in the debutant scene. So her aunt took her in, showed her that she could do just fine without a man.
But while she’s in Paris, she runs into the man who broke her heart. He’s sitting in a restaurant, drawing portraits for the customers. She assumes he’s living in poverty, and he thinks she’s a kept woman. This is just the beginning of some of their misunderstandings – past and present.
The attraction is still there. But they’re both angry and out for revenge. And their attempts to get back at each other makes for a very entertaining, romantic, sexy story.
I liked this book a lot. I especially liked that the heroine was so smart and independent. She was in complete control of her life. She didn’t need a man, but realized it was okay to want one.
Will definitely be looking to read more by this author and more Harlequin Historicals.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
Amethyst travels to Paris to make some business connections. She’s a wealthy, independent, single businesswoman, thanks to an aunt who trained her then left her business to her. Amethyst was a disappointment to her family because she didn’t marry well. She fell in love with a man who rejected her and then lost interest in the debutant scene. So her aunt took her in, showed her that she could do just fine without a man.
But while she’s in Paris, she runs into the man who broke her heart. He’s sitting in a restaurant, drawing portraits for the customers. She assumes he’s living in poverty, and he thinks she’s a kept woman. This is just the beginning of some of their misunderstandings – past and present.
The attraction is still there. But they’re both angry and out for revenge. And their attempts to get back at each other makes for a very entertaining, romantic, sexy story.
I liked this book a lot. I especially liked that the heroine was so smart and independent. She was in complete control of her life. She didn’t need a man, but realized it was okay to want one.
Will definitely be looking to read more by this author and more Harlequin Historicals.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
March 27, 2014
This review also appears on Reading with Analysis.
After I read this book, I just didn’t know what to say about it. I loved the first half (it had all these fantastic elements including a wealthy businesswoman heroine who is in control of her own life -- !! -- and a disapproving Frenchman and a comedy of errors plot.), but it felt as though the second half abruptly returned to 'typical historical romance novel' form.
There were quite a few things that I liked about the book, particularly that the heroine (sort of) recovers from a difficult family situation and achieves a (sort of) independence and that the hero escapes from the stifling expectations of his family to live out his passions (art) on his own terms. But there were also a lot of things I didn’t like, particularly that the heroine’s recovery from her difficult family situation involves an extreme pendulum swing from naively trusting young lady to hardened and crotchety pensioner in the body of a young woman. Further, I wanted a lot more sucking up from the hero, who was the cause of all the heroine’s difficulties.
Portrait of a Scandal ends up being pretty typical for its genre, which will be comforting to some readers and frustrating to others. You know who you are. But the first half of the book is fantastic.
After I read this book, I just didn’t know what to say about it. I loved the first half (it had all these fantastic elements including a wealthy businesswoman heroine who is in control of her own life -- !! -- and a disapproving Frenchman and a comedy of errors plot.), but it felt as though the second half abruptly returned to 'typical historical romance novel' form.
There were quite a few things that I liked about the book, particularly that the heroine (sort of) recovers from a difficult family situation and achieves a (sort of) independence and that the hero escapes from the stifling expectations of his family to live out his passions (art) on his own terms. But there were also a lot of things I didn’t like, particularly that the heroine’s recovery from her difficult family situation involves an extreme pendulum swing from naively trusting young lady to hardened and crotchety pensioner in the body of a young woman. Further, I wanted a lot more sucking up from the hero, who was the cause of all the heroine’s difficulties.
Portrait of a Scandal ends up being pretty typical for its genre, which will be comforting to some readers and frustrating to others. You know who you are. But the first half of the book is fantastic.
March 1, 2014
Slow beginning, great middle, but the tacked on conflict at the end was disappointing. Loved the Paris setting, the heroine with a head for business, and that the hero was a "lowly" fourth son.
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January 12, 2016"Burrows' newest, a tale of lovers meeting again a decade after their scandalous affair, hits the right notes." RT Book Reviews
February 16, 2014
My blog review of Portrait of a Scandal-
http://wrathsqueensbooks.blogspot.co....
http://wrathsqueensbooks.blogspot.co....
May 29, 2014
This was not so much about a scandal as about healing wounds of the past. A very good read.
July 30, 2015
Typical story.
May 3, 2015
What a boring book, no content, could not wait to finish it
March 27, 2017
Terrible lies, deceits, deceptions and hidden truths lie at the heart of this novel. So much treachery and many scurrilous rumors have contrived to tear apart two lovers that reading them struggle to make a life together is almost agonizing to read.
Ms. Burrows, however, makes it happen. It’s a treat to watch the heretofore hemmed-in Amethyst Dalby spread her wings and turn herself into the gorgeous lady she always was. (I have to confess to being a tad disappointed that she only came to an awareness of her feminine nature because a former flame buried his hands in her hair and kept on raving about her beauty. It’s an irritating notion that a woman can see herself only as lovely if some man tells her so.)
The characters of Miss Dalby and Lord Harcourt are laid out through scenes of passionate lovemaking interspersed with intense conversation. Such talk and the connection between men and women because of their similar difficult pasts with harsh guardians and misunderstandings seem to be a hallmark of Ms. Burrows’s romances and deepen the connections forged between the love interests. The relationship between Amethyst and her beloved Gregory is especially appealing since they have to battle mutual suspicion, hostility and the fear of scandal from others even when they want to throw caution to the winds.
I should also note that Ms. Burrows sets this novel in Paris and with such emphasis on the period of post-revolutionary France as to make the eternal City of Lights come alive. It’s wonderful to read about the various shops, restaurants, cafés and galleries that Amethyst attends with her chaperone, the snooty French courier they’ve hired and the darling Sophie. It makes France almost another character in the book, as well it should.
Ms. Burrows is a romance novelist to prize. So try Portrait of a Scandal if you like your romance with a bit of French flair.
Ms. Burrows, however, makes it happen. It’s a treat to watch the heretofore hemmed-in Amethyst Dalby spread her wings and turn herself into the gorgeous lady she always was. (I have to confess to being a tad disappointed that she only came to an awareness of her feminine nature because a former flame buried his hands in her hair and kept on raving about her beauty. It’s an irritating notion that a woman can see herself only as lovely if some man tells her so.)
The characters of Miss Dalby and Lord Harcourt are laid out through scenes of passionate lovemaking interspersed with intense conversation. Such talk and the connection between men and women because of their similar difficult pasts with harsh guardians and misunderstandings seem to be a hallmark of Ms. Burrows’s romances and deepen the connections forged between the love interests. The relationship between Amethyst and her beloved Gregory is especially appealing since they have to battle mutual suspicion, hostility and the fear of scandal from others even when they want to throw caution to the winds.
I should also note that Ms. Burrows sets this novel in Paris and with such emphasis on the period of post-revolutionary France as to make the eternal City of Lights come alive. It’s wonderful to read about the various shops, restaurants, cafés and galleries that Amethyst attends with her chaperone, the snooty French courier they’ve hired and the darling Sophie. It makes France almost another character in the book, as well it should.
Ms. Burrows is a romance novelist to prize. So try Portrait of a Scandal if you like your romance with a bit of French flair.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews