Tea and Scandal

by Joan Smith

THERE WAS MUCH ADO ABOUT SOMETHING AT WILDERCLIFFE!
Exceedingly wealthy Lord Pargeter had married his housekeeper . . . then expired, leaving the woman an heiress. There was something havey-cavey about the whole business, especially when the woman's niece, Jane Lonsdale, arrived unexpectedly from her teaching position at Miss Prism's Academy.
Across the lake, neighbors at Swann Hall were most interested. Visiting acquaintance Lord Fenwick decided to investigate . . . and was very intrigued by Jane, whose past hinted deliciously of scandal and whose lovely face and lively spirit fascinated him even more.
As devilishly attractive as she found Lord Fenwick, Jane kept frantically busy trying to keep her past a secret and was not gullible enough to succumb to the charms of a man too curious about her for his intentions to be noble!

Genres: Regency, Historical Romance, Romance, Traditional Regency, Regency Romance, Historical Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

About the author

Joan Smith is a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and the Ontario College of Education. She has taught French and English in high school and English in college. When she began writing, her interest in Jane Austen and Lord Byron led to her first choice of genre, the Regency, which she especially liked for its wit and humor.
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant

Reviews

[Lyuda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Smith is one of my favorite traditional regency writers. She is to go to author when I need some light and cozy story. Reading this book, as often with her stories, I felt like watching a play: delightful romp, amusing comedy of manners with laugh out loud moments.
Location: Wildercliffe and Swann Hall estates in Cotswold country.
Cast of characters:
Lord Fenwick, top of the trees gentleman who came to the country to escape a filly chasing after him.
His friend Mr. Swann who puts foot in mouth more often than not and looks like "an unmade bed" but otherwise amicable gentleman.
Lady Sykes, distant relation to both gentlemen, a scheming widow with wild and priceless imagination.
Lady Pargeter, a former housekeeper turned mistress of Wildercliffe and now a wealthy widow.
Miss Lonsdale, her niece and a former schoolteacher.
Put the characters together in a country setting and you get:
-delightful bantering, flirtation and budding romance between Lord Fenwick and Miss Longsdale
-battle of wills between Lady Pargeter and Lady Skykes where swords are crossed, daggers are drawn
-and much , much more.
Although not my favorite of Joan Smith's regencies, I would definetly recommend it to all JS fans.

[Emma Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane is dismissed from her teaching position when the music master kisses her and joins her aunt who’s just inherited a fortune after marrying her employer who passed. The entire neighbourhood comes to investigate this most unusual will and this new lady.

This was fine but definitely not special. I enjoyed the romance between Fenwick and Jane based on mutual tastes (books) and forged in country pursuits. Jane’s unhappy suitor Mr Swann owns a flock of birds and those scenes were hilarious. This one has a lot to do with morality (Jane’s unhappy circumstances, her aunt’s sudden money and condition) which wasn’t quite as enjoyable as her other books.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, funny fun. Don't miss Joan Smith!!

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must have read this twice before I read it now, but since it's only an odd 150 pages I probably think of it and less than a real book. Lord Pargeter marries his housemaid and then after a couple of months expires leaving Lady Pargeter a very rich lady. But not far away another lady thinks something havey cavey has gone on ensuring that all that money and land was stolen from her. Then Jane Landsdown is turned off her post because the music master was caught kissing her; she shows up to visit her aunt Lady Pargeter which makes the neighbor lady even more sure the whole thing was planned. Lord Fenwick is sent to check out Lady Pargeter and Jane.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is by far the most comical of Smith's regency romances. There is a subplot about a Mr. Swann who owns a flock of cobs, pens, and cygnets. He is the unattractive suitor of the heroine, who is in love with the usual Smith beau ideal--tall, dark and saturnine. There is a villainess, a sot, and a few older lovebirds. The heroine is a governess who has lost her post due to sexual harassment--of course it was her fault. She comes to live with her aunt, and all sorts of mésalliances occur.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some great moments of humor, but overall, the book was a disappointment. The narrative kept jumping around between character's viewpoints, which was distracting. The heroine was irritating and immature. The "romance" was a joke- the first recency I've read that I would have to classify as a teen fiction.

[Meanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Joan Smith's best but still quick and entertaining. My absolute favorites of her books are Winter Wedding, Talk of the Town, Lady Madeline's Folly, Bath Scandal, to name a few. She is such a prolific author.

[Olnega · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for something light, and this book was exactly that—sweet, charming, and feel-good. There were quite a few humorous moments, and I especially enjoyed the silly intrigues and battle of wills between the two secondary female characters. Regency romcom at its best.

[Julia Hebner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tea and scandal

Joan Smith's books are so smoothly entertaining! Well constructed plots and charming flirtations, excellent pacing and only enough tension to keep the pages turning. Perfect fantasy.

[Elen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like.. 3.5? It was an interesting read, can be called 'unique'. It was not overly touching nor thought provoking. Just a pleasant read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! I loved the fact that the story pulled you in right from the 1st page. You'll enjoy all the characters like Mr. Swann and his swans.

[Fluttershy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely light-hearted story full of fun, misunderstandings and love. A perfect way to while a few hours away …

[MissKitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 this was cute enough.

Very low angst and a super charming Hero that flirts with the heroine.

[Sara Hastings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent supporting cast of characters - they were actually more enjoyable than our MCs!

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read.

[Karen Darling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

[Jodi Ralston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Some of the flirtations and banter are the best I have seen in a Regency, and there are quite a few funny moments with funny characters--Mr. Swann and Mrs. Swann (his mother). And I enjoyed the verbal cat fights between the heroine's aunt and Lady Sykes, who is a connection to the Swanns.

The downsides of Tea & Scandal are few compared to its strong charms. At times, the story diverts itself and forgets to keep up some of the clever bits it started. Such as, Lady Sykes's entertaining schemes and stories that she invented to explain who the heroine (Jane Lonsdale) is. This should have been more on Lady Sykes's mind. Finally, the ending is a little rushed, and it involves a misunderstanding that isn't very believable. Fortunately, the characters themselves realize it quickly.

Overall, I think the ending and the beginning chapters the weakest, but it is hard to say anything is weak about Joan Smith's work. As a whole, it is fun and witty. A good story, and a good author. I'm looking forward to reading others by Joan Smith.

[tara_l · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book several times and really enjoy it. There aren't crazy conflicts, just likeable characters and a sweet story of two nice people falling in love. It's quite, easy to read, and not a lot happens other than people hanging out in drawing rooms and enjoying a quiet country estate. The supporting cast is enjoyable as well... a little kooky, a little funny. The battle of wills between Lady Sykes and Jane's aunt is quite a bit of fun. Both hero and heroine are nice. I enjoy this one every time I read it. It makes me smile.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joan Smith writes light, funny romances set back at the in the Regency period—definitely comfort food.
This story gives us a governess who is dismissed in disgrace due to the behaviour of another teacher. She runs off to join her aunt, who has just had an unexpected change in her own situation.
Her aunt offers her a home and she meets the various eccentric people in the small neighbourhood, with the possibility of romance showing its head, of course, after the obligatory misunderstandings.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm thinning my library, looking for books to recycle. I have a few favorite authors for Regency Romances. Joan Smith happens to be one of them.

This was fun, frothy, light, and charming. It was everything I expect in a Regency. I liked the twist with the aunt. I liked the woman who was so malicious that she had to search for evil in others. I liked the Swanns. I think in many ways, the side characters made the book.

I'm keeping this one.

[Anne Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny dialogue and rich cast of characters make this a fast paced, fun read

For my full review: http://www.regrom.com/2016/05/26/joan...

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew it...

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly and sweet.