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Scandal #3
Scandal's Promise
Haunted by questions and her own insecurities, Lady Emily Sinclair longs to discover why her betrothed abandoned her and married another. Seven years have passed, but the pain of his betrayal still lingers, buried beneath layers of humiliation and mistrust. When he returns after the Napoleonic Wars, she vows to avoid him. If only her foolish heart felt the same.
Broken and addicted to his medication, widower Andrew Quimby, Lord Cardmore, rattles around his ancient manor, oblivious to his deteriorating health and state of mind. When he learns the woman he was forced to abandon remains unmarried, he vows to try to win her back, even if it means returning to a society he despises.
But Andrew soon discovers he has a secret enemy. Threatening notes appear and sinister accidents put those in his inner circle in danger. Can he overcome his demons in time to keep them safe or will everyone and everything he loves disappear forever.
Broken and addicted to his medication, widower Andrew Quimby, Lord Cardmore, rattles around his ancient manor, oblivious to his deteriorating health and state of mind. When he learns the woman he was forced to abandon remains unmarried, he vows to try to win her back, even if it means returning to a society he despises.
But Andrew soon discovers he has a secret enemy. Threatening notes appear and sinister accidents put those in his inner circle in danger. Can he overcome his demons in time to keep them safe or will everyone and everything he loves disappear forever.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2020
557 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Gibson
28 books468 followersAward-winning author of 21 novels and eight history books, Pamela Gibson is a former City Manager who lives in the Nevada desert. Having spent three years messing about in boats, a hobby that included a five-thousand-mile trip in a 32-foot Nordic Tug with her patient spouse, she now spends most of her time indoors happily reading, writing, cooking and keeping up with the antics of her gran-cats, and Ralph, her rescue cat. If you want to learn more about her activities go to https://www.pamelagibsonwrites.com and sign up for her newsletter or occasional blog..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 22, 2022
This wasn't terrible, but it was very unfinished, incomplete, half-baked.
Via flashbacks, we learn that the H was betrothed to his beloved h, but gets trapped by the evil OW as she literally lies in wait for him in bed. The problem? We never meet the evil OW. She dies in childbirth.
H jilts the h because his brutally mean father made him so he leaves for the conveniently placed Napoleonic Wars and comes home to a son which is odd as he never had sex with his wife. S
It's six years later and he meets up with the heroine and tries to explain why he had to jilt her when his FIL suddenly sends him the son and heir he's ignored for six years. Poor kid. Despite being childhood friends, the H and h go back and forth over whether he had sex with the OW or not. A lot of back and forth. Does she even know him?
Too many incomplete threads:
Off page evil OW
Off page (for the most part) villain
Incomplete backstory with dead mother and overly strict father
Off page detox from laudanum
This was like a partially cooked soufflé, and I don't care for soufflés. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't that good.
Via flashbacks, we learn that the H was betrothed to his beloved h, but gets trapped by the evil OW as she literally lies in wait for him in bed. The problem? We never meet the evil OW. She dies in childbirth.
H jilts the h because his brutally mean father made him so he leaves for the conveniently placed Napoleonic Wars and comes home to a son which is odd as he never had sex with his wife. S
It's six years later and he meets up with the heroine and tries to explain why he had to jilt her when his FIL suddenly sends him the son and heir he's ignored for six years. Poor kid. Despite being childhood friends, the H and h go back and forth over whether he had sex with the OW or not. A lot of back and forth. Does she even know him?
Too many incomplete threads:
Off page evil OW
Off page (for the most part) villain
Incomplete backstory with dead mother and overly strict father
Off page detox from laudanum
This was like a partially cooked soufflé, and I don't care for soufflés. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't that good.
November 8, 2020
“Scandal's Promise” is a good old-fashioned historical romance that will transport and enchant readers.
Read full review in the 2020 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2020 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 7, 2021
DNF at 41%... I did not like the characters and did not care what would happen to them specially the heroine. Despite all their history and her claims of knowing him, she does not believe him and it started getting on my nerve. I found her a very annoying character. I could not believe that our hero would talk about his wild ways with the heroine before asking her to marry him ( because they were great friends) and she did not find it creepy keeping in mind that this is supposed to be a regency. She used to go swimming with him in her shift when she was a teen ( seriously?).
November 3, 2022
This was a book that had so much potential. It could have been full of five-star-awesomeness, but instead a whole heap of little things kept tripping my fuses, which dragged it down a bit. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, because I did, but I was sad that it didn’t quite reach the heights it could have done.
Here’s the premise: Andrew Quimby, newly inheriting the title of Earl of Cardmore, returns to his ancestral seat to find it more or less abandoned, the rooms shut up and most of the servants gone. Andrew isn’t in a much better state himself. Seven years fighting the Napoleonic Wars have left him with an injury that seems to be healed, so why does he suffer from recurring pain? Only laudanum (opium) makes it better, topped up with alcohol.
Lady Emily Sinclair lives next door and seven years ago she was betrothed to Andrew when he inexplicably married another woman. She died in childbirth within the year, but Andrew stayed away from Emily, and she’s not sure she can forgive him for his betrayal. She’s never married, and suspects she never will now, but she’s quite content as a spinster, and is determined to stay away from him… isn’t she?
So we have a second chance romance, and the problem here is the usual one - however plausible the failure on the first go round, there isn’t any real obstacle to a speedy resolution this time. She’s a spinster, he’s a widower, they still love each other, what’s to keep them apart? If the hero had an ounce of common sense, he would go straight to the heroine, explain what happened the first time, tell her he still loves her, and set about courting her with determination. Well, that would be logical, but it wouldn’t make for much of a story, so the author resorts to all sorts of devious schemes to keep the two apart - misunderstandings, miscommunication, mishap, machinations by others and so on.
It has to be said that most of the trouble is my least favourite trope, the misunderstanding. Andrew never properly explains himself to Emily, never shows her that he loves her, never really talks to her, so she finds things out piecemeal and gets hold of the wrong end of the stick entirely several times (understandably, actually). The result is that she is repeatedly dithering between wanting him and deciding she’ll never be able to trust him again. And Andrew, for his part, swivels about between hope and despair, deciding one minute that he’ll win Emily back no matter what and the next that he’s lost her for ever. Inevitably, this is a high-angst book, and it got a tiny bit old towards the end.
I liked both the main characters. Andrew was a deeply flawed character who needed a big redemptive arc, and it took him a long time to get there, but he’d had a rough childhood, so I could give him some leeway. And Emily was a strong character, who may have had passionate feelings but was also well able to keep them under control, like a good Regency lady - most of the time, anyway! I liked Aunt Lily, and would have liked more of her, and Andrew’s friend Ralston had the thankless task, so common in Regencies, of playing a minor role while being a far more worthy character than the hero. Be warned that this is book 3 of a series, and there were characters popping up from earlier books, which is lovely for those who’ve read them, but a bit disconcerting for those who haven’t, although they are explained quite well. Still, it felt a bit as if something was missing.
One of the high points of the book is the way it deals with Andrew’s opium addiction. This must have been a common problem in the era, because laudanum was the only really effective pain relief known, and readily available, but it was highly addictive (and still is, of course). The periods of euphoria interspersed with dark despair, and the steady spiral downwards were brilliantly portrayed. We also saw something of Andrew’s recovery period (although mercifully not much). I wasn’t completely convinced by his relatively rapid return to normality. I don’t know whether that’s accurate, or creative licence to fit the time scale of the book.
What worked less well for me? The drama seemed a bit over the top, and the villain of the piece seemed to come almost out of the blue. There were some clues, and to be honest there weren’t many possible suspects, but at the end it almost seemed as if they compiled a list of suspects and said, well, it must be him. And it was. But maybe I missed some hints, who knows.
One other problem for me (which may not affect other readers) is the relaxed attitude to historical accuracy. This just didn’t feel like an authentic Regency, to me. The book uses a multitude of American expressions, as well as some phrases that were far too modern (the heroine wants closure, for instance). I found these a repeated irritation, but that’s just me; it’s a stylistic choice by the author. One thing she got absolutely right, though, is the legal question of the child, so kudos for that. Also, there’s a fair amount of sex in the book - one actual sex scene and a number of lustful moments, which get anatomical, so if you’re looking for a clean read, best to avoid this one. I don’t mind sex in my Regency reads, but the hero and heroine were a little too ready to fall into passionate embraces (and then immediately decide they shouldn’t do that again). The Regency is all about restraint, after all.
This is a solid read with an interesting plot that I enjoyed a lot, but for me it was let down by the back-and-forth angsting of hero and heroine, too much lusting and all those Americanisms and modern expressions. Four stars.
Here’s the premise: Andrew Quimby, newly inheriting the title of Earl of Cardmore, returns to his ancestral seat to find it more or less abandoned, the rooms shut up and most of the servants gone. Andrew isn’t in a much better state himself. Seven years fighting the Napoleonic Wars have left him with an injury that seems to be healed, so why does he suffer from recurring pain? Only laudanum (opium) makes it better, topped up with alcohol.
Lady Emily Sinclair lives next door and seven years ago she was betrothed to Andrew when he inexplicably married another woman. She died in childbirth within the year, but Andrew stayed away from Emily, and she’s not sure she can forgive him for his betrayal. She’s never married, and suspects she never will now, but she’s quite content as a spinster, and is determined to stay away from him… isn’t she?
So we have a second chance romance, and the problem here is the usual one - however plausible the failure on the first go round, there isn’t any real obstacle to a speedy resolution this time. She’s a spinster, he’s a widower, they still love each other, what’s to keep them apart? If the hero had an ounce of common sense, he would go straight to the heroine, explain what happened the first time, tell her he still loves her, and set about courting her with determination. Well, that would be logical, but it wouldn’t make for much of a story, so the author resorts to all sorts of devious schemes to keep the two apart - misunderstandings, miscommunication, mishap, machinations by others and so on.
It has to be said that most of the trouble is my least favourite trope, the misunderstanding. Andrew never properly explains himself to Emily, never shows her that he loves her, never really talks to her, so she finds things out piecemeal and gets hold of the wrong end of the stick entirely several times (understandably, actually). The result is that she is repeatedly dithering between wanting him and deciding she’ll never be able to trust him again. And Andrew, for his part, swivels about between hope and despair, deciding one minute that he’ll win Emily back no matter what and the next that he’s lost her for ever. Inevitably, this is a high-angst book, and it got a tiny bit old towards the end.
I liked both the main characters. Andrew was a deeply flawed character who needed a big redemptive arc, and it took him a long time to get there, but he’d had a rough childhood, so I could give him some leeway. And Emily was a strong character, who may have had passionate feelings but was also well able to keep them under control, like a good Regency lady - most of the time, anyway! I liked Aunt Lily, and would have liked more of her, and Andrew’s friend Ralston had the thankless task, so common in Regencies, of playing a minor role while being a far more worthy character than the hero. Be warned that this is book 3 of a series, and there were characters popping up from earlier books, which is lovely for those who’ve read them, but a bit disconcerting for those who haven’t, although they are explained quite well. Still, it felt a bit as if something was missing.
One of the high points of the book is the way it deals with Andrew’s opium addiction. This must have been a common problem in the era, because laudanum was the only really effective pain relief known, and readily available, but it was highly addictive (and still is, of course). The periods of euphoria interspersed with dark despair, and the steady spiral downwards were brilliantly portrayed. We also saw something of Andrew’s recovery period (although mercifully not much). I wasn’t completely convinced by his relatively rapid return to normality. I don’t know whether that’s accurate, or creative licence to fit the time scale of the book.
What worked less well for me? The drama seemed a bit over the top, and the villain of the piece seemed to come almost out of the blue. There were some clues, and to be honest there weren’t many possible suspects, but at the end it almost seemed as if they compiled a list of suspects and said, well, it must be him. And it was. But maybe I missed some hints, who knows.
One other problem for me (which may not affect other readers) is the relaxed attitude to historical accuracy. This just didn’t feel like an authentic Regency, to me. The book uses a multitude of American expressions, as well as some phrases that were far too modern (the heroine wants closure, for instance). I found these a repeated irritation, but that’s just me; it’s a stylistic choice by the author. One thing she got absolutely right, though, is the legal question of the child, so kudos for that. Also, there’s a fair amount of sex in the book - one actual sex scene and a number of lustful moments, which get anatomical, so if you’re looking for a clean read, best to avoid this one. I don’t mind sex in my Regency reads, but the hero and heroine were a little too ready to fall into passionate embraces (and then immediately decide they shouldn’t do that again). The Regency is all about restraint, after all.
This is a solid read with an interesting plot that I enjoyed a lot, but for me it was let down by the back-and-forth angsting of hero and heroine, too much lusting and all those Americanisms and modern expressions. Four stars.
October 14, 2020
Wow. Just, wow. Pamela Gibson has outdone herself with this latest historical installment. Scandal's Promise addressed current opioid issues with the drug of the time period, as well as what makes a father: bloodline, or the daily, in-the-trenches dad who you can count on. Heavy stuff, but handled in such a way that the reader is pulled into the story, feeling for each character's dilemmas as if they were their own.
Emily and Drew were perfect for each other; strong deep down inside, but each with their own doubts of self-worth. I loved how Emily worked through her "issues" with Drew, realistic to the time period, yet a heroine I could empathize with even in today. Likewise with Drew. What he suffered is not unlike what today's soldiers deal with.
Gibson has woven an intricate tale with many moving parts that all work together toward the HEA that romance readers look for. Well-rounded characters who you could meet in current times drive the story to its satisfying conclusion. I enjoy each world this author creates in every one of her books. Scandal's Promise was no exception. I highly recommend it.
Emily and Drew were perfect for each other; strong deep down inside, but each with their own doubts of self-worth. I loved how Emily worked through her "issues" with Drew, realistic to the time period, yet a heroine I could empathize with even in today. Likewise with Drew. What he suffered is not unlike what today's soldiers deal with.
Gibson has woven an intricate tale with many moving parts that all work together toward the HEA that romance readers look for. Well-rounded characters who you could meet in current times drive the story to its satisfying conclusion. I enjoy each world this author creates in every one of her books. Scandal's Promise was no exception. I highly recommend it.
August 28, 2020
3.75 Stars!
I haven't read a historical romance in well over a year and this was a lovely one to start back again. While Scandal's Promise is part of a series, and the heroines from the previous books appear in this one, it can be perfectly read as a standalone, which is what I did.
What I Loved: Little George, Andrew's son, he was so adorable and my heart hurt for all he had gone through in his short life until Emily made Andrew behave like the father he was supposed to be. He was just an innocent child and I thought he shouldn't have to pay for the sins of his parents.
Aunt Lily was a riot and always willing to help her niece, Emily. Just the kind of eccentric lady I love to read about!
What I Liked: The addiction premise. I thought it was well researched and from what I remember from back when I read more of this kind of book, it was something that could very easily happen.
The writing was pretty good, too. I was engaged in the story and while I can't say I loved Andrew and Emily, I was interested enough in them to want to find out what would happen.
Ralston, Andrew's best friend. He was supportive and steadfast and really wanted Andrew's wellbeing over everything else.
Emily, even if I felt she gave in too easily once Andrew sort of explained things to her (too little, too late, in my opinion), which came back to haunt her later when she overheard a conversation later in the book. I don't usually like miscommunication in books, but it worked here. I also liked that she pushed Andrew to do right by George and along with Ralston made Andrew see that his addiction was getting out of hand.
Andrew, although the way he let himself be trapped into marriage with Caroline and the way he behaved with Emily and George didn't particularly endear him to me. However flawed he was, though, he made a brave effort to beat his addiction to laudanum and become the father that George deserved.
The chemistry between Emily and Andrew was great and they seemed well-suited for one another, once Andrew stopped lying that is. I felt Emily gave in a bit too fast the first time, but it worked out well in the end, so there's that.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was romantic, had some action to keep things moving along and an enticing storyline. I would've loved some things to be expanded on, like Andrew and George's interactions and I would've loved that Wentworth and Lester got more of a comeuppance, but all in all, I have no trouble recommending Scandal's Promise to fans of this genre.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I haven't read a historical romance in well over a year and this was a lovely one to start back again. While Scandal's Promise is part of a series, and the heroines from the previous books appear in this one, it can be perfectly read as a standalone, which is what I did.
What I Loved: Little George, Andrew's son, he was so adorable and my heart hurt for all he had gone through in his short life until Emily made Andrew behave like the father he was supposed to be. He was just an innocent child and I thought he shouldn't have to pay for the sins of his parents.
Aunt Lily was a riot and always willing to help her niece, Emily. Just the kind of eccentric lady I love to read about!
What I Liked: The addiction premise. I thought it was well researched and from what I remember from back when I read more of this kind of book, it was something that could very easily happen.
The writing was pretty good, too. I was engaged in the story and while I can't say I loved Andrew and Emily, I was interested enough in them to want to find out what would happen.
Ralston, Andrew's best friend. He was supportive and steadfast and really wanted Andrew's wellbeing over everything else.
Emily, even if I felt she gave in too easily once Andrew sort of explained things to her (too little, too late, in my opinion), which came back to haunt her later when she overheard a conversation later in the book. I don't usually like miscommunication in books, but it worked here. I also liked that she pushed Andrew to do right by George and along with Ralston made Andrew see that his addiction was getting out of hand.
Andrew, although the way he let himself be trapped into marriage with Caroline and the way he behaved with Emily and George didn't particularly endear him to me. However flawed he was, though, he made a brave effort to beat his addiction to laudanum and become the father that George deserved.
The chemistry between Emily and Andrew was great and they seemed well-suited for one another, once Andrew stopped lying that is. I felt Emily gave in a bit too fast the first time, but it worked out well in the end, so there's that.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was romantic, had some action to keep things moving along and an enticing storyline. I would've loved some things to be expanded on, like Andrew and George's interactions and I would've loved that Wentworth and Lester got more of a comeuppance, but all in all, I have no trouble recommending Scandal's Promise to fans of this genre.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
December 11, 2020
Really enjoyed this entertaining Regency romance which involved engaged forever best friends being split apart by scandal when Andrew is set-up by a socialite who needs to quickly marry related to finding herself pregnant. After his forced marriage, he is off to war returning injured and addicted and his wife dead during birth. Lady Emily sequesters herself at their country estate with family, broken-hearted and determined to remain a spinster. However, her family estate borders Andrew whereupon their lives can't help but to intertwine. An unknown son, mystery, betrayal and threatening notes, along with his addictions complicates any future reconciliation. Recommended to those who enjoy a good Regency romance and mystery.
May 2, 2021
Jilted
Emily has lived the last few years knowing the man she has loved all her life had ruined another girl and taken her to Gretna Green. He had gone to a house party, something that didn't bother her. They'd been friends and playmates since childhood and never had their love for each other been in question.
Daniel had joined the army as soon as he had married, wanting to be as far from his wife as possible. Returning from battle with a shoulder wound that wouldn't heal, he'd become a recluse in his country estate, caring little for himself or anyone else.
After 6 years, can they former friends find their way back to civility?! You'll be so engrossed in this book, you'll not want to put it down. Yum!
Emily has lived the last few years knowing the man she has loved all her life had ruined another girl and taken her to Gretna Green. He had gone to a house party, something that didn't bother her. They'd been friends and playmates since childhood and never had their love for each other been in question.
Daniel had joined the army as soon as he had married, wanting to be as far from his wife as possible. Returning from battle with a shoulder wound that wouldn't heal, he'd become a recluse in his country estate, caring little for himself or anyone else.
After 6 years, can they former friends find their way back to civility?! You'll be so engrossed in this book, you'll not want to put it down. Yum!
May 7, 2021
A well constructed novel, many interesting features
It seems that the Regency Romances I have been reading recently have either too much sex or too much psychological character analysis. This novel is definitely psychological, which unfortunately leads to repetitive descriptions of the characters' thinking. However, the characters in this novel are pretty unique and original and have big struggles in their efforts to find love. Children, and the adults love for them, features big in this novel. I liked that. Also, opiate addiction, which is a huge modern day problem, is examined and described in detail.
Though there are sex scenes, they are few and not given much attention. A good read, with excitement provided by plot twists such as a kidnapped child.
It seems that the Regency Romances I have been reading recently have either too much sex or too much psychological character analysis. This novel is definitely psychological, which unfortunately leads to repetitive descriptions of the characters' thinking. However, the characters in this novel are pretty unique and original and have big struggles in their efforts to find love. Children, and the adults love for them, features big in this novel. I liked that. Also, opiate addiction, which is a huge modern day problem, is examined and described in detail.
Though there are sex scenes, they are few and not given much attention. A good read, with excitement provided by plot twists such as a kidnapped child.
August 31, 2020
Scandal's Promise kept me entranced all the way to the end. I loved the mystery about who was the father, even though the reader knows from the beginning it wasn't Andrew. The descriptions of the country homes was excellent. I felt like I was there. Also, the descriptions in the woods collecting boughs to decorate for Christmas was wonderful. Made me want to start buying Chrstmas presents! Pam's use of language from the time era really sets the scene. All in all, I think it is a great read.
May 5, 2021
Grossly Disappointed
I will not finish a supposedly historical novel that panders to 21st century anti- morals instead of trying to get into the minds and hearts of people who lived in a time when premarital sex was considered a sin and people were concernwd about sins and their souls, and a time when there was neither reliable birth control nor safe abortion.
At the very least, authors could consult with elderly women.
I will not finish a supposedly historical novel that panders to 21st century anti- morals instead of trying to get into the minds and hearts of people who lived in a time when premarital sex was considered a sin and people were concernwd about sins and their souls, and a time when there was neither reliable birth control nor safe abortion.
At the very least, authors could consult with elderly women.
May 17, 2021
Andrew abandoned Emily after their engagement was announced and married another woman. Emily never knew why. Andrew is back from war with a son. Will she ever know what happened? When the boy is kidnapped Emily helps to find him. When he is kidnapped again the chase is on. It is a interesting story of love, loss, and trust.
October 12, 2020
Easy read
Overall an ok read. I really don’t know if I liked Emily. Ant say why though. Just not impressed and at times she got on my nerves. It also felt that parts of this story was left out.
Overall an ok read. I really don’t know if I liked Emily. Ant say why though. Just not impressed and at times she got on my nerves. It also felt that parts of this story was left out.
January 13, 2021
Deals with addiction to laudanum
July 9, 2021
3.5 stars.
Lady Emily and Andrew (now Lord Cardmore) were neighbours and best friends, later they fell in love and become betrothed. Andrew was then tricked, finding himself accidentally in a compromising position by a devious young woman and her family, and forced into a marriage he didn't want.
Seven years have passed and Emily is now a 25 year old spinster who has vowed to never marry. Even though she was devastated by what happened (she thinks Andrew cheated on her) she believes she could never love anyone else.
Cardmore returns home after years fighting on the continent. His wife died in childbirth (She was pregnant when she tricked him into marriage) and a child he has never seen is delivered to his doorstep. He reaches out for help to his neighbour Emily who he still loves deeply, in the hope she could forgive him for not standing up to society pressure all those years ago.
Emily wants closure so comes to see Cardmore, but then feels the need to help his motherless 'son'. Old feelings burn bright again and Emily feels herself falling again, but is conflicted because she doesn't trust Andrew when he tells her the marriage was a set up.
I thought the book was ok. There is another storyline related to Andrew's addiction to laudnaum which was on almost every page. I thought Emily gave in to Andrew pretty quickly considering she didn't want anything at all to do with him at the start.
I felt really bad for Cardmore. He got tricked lost his love, his reputation and his wife was a hussy. He was injured in battle, had survivor guilt and ended up addicted to painkillers. To top it off his one love refused to believe him even though he told her the absolute truth.
This book contains a descriptive love scene.
Lady Emily and Andrew (now Lord Cardmore) were neighbours and best friends, later they fell in love and become betrothed. Andrew was then tricked, finding himself accidentally in a compromising position by a devious young woman and her family, and forced into a marriage he didn't want.
Seven years have passed and Emily is now a 25 year old spinster who has vowed to never marry. Even though she was devastated by what happened (she thinks Andrew cheated on her) she believes she could never love anyone else.
Cardmore returns home after years fighting on the continent. His wife died in childbirth (She was pregnant when she tricked him into marriage) and a child he has never seen is delivered to his doorstep. He reaches out for help to his neighbour Emily who he still loves deeply, in the hope she could forgive him for not standing up to society pressure all those years ago.
Emily wants closure so comes to see Cardmore, but then feels the need to help his motherless 'son'. Old feelings burn bright again and Emily feels herself falling again, but is conflicted because she doesn't trust Andrew when he tells her the marriage was a set up.
I thought the book was ok. There is another storyline related to Andrew's addiction to laudnaum which was on almost every page. I thought Emily gave in to Andrew pretty quickly considering she didn't want anything at all to do with him at the start.
I felt really bad for Cardmore. He got tricked lost his love, his reputation and his wife was a hussy. He was injured in battle, had survivor guilt and ended up addicted to painkillers. To top it off his one love refused to believe him even though he told her the absolute truth.
This book contains a descriptive love scene.
October 27, 2023
Childhood friends to lovers and second chance love
The book before this one was not my favorite and I was wary prior to reading this one. This book was written much better and more enjoyable to read as well. This story had a twist that was a first for me in HR. We find it out fairly early and was interesting to read how the relationship developed. If I had to find fault, the dialogue sometimes felt forced and also thought the way it was determined who the villain(s) was seemed to appear out of nowhere. Beyond these two things though I enjoyed this story. The pacing was much better in this book with plenty of turns. Also, while there is only one open door scene, it was very spicy. I do wished there would’ve been enough time at the end to naturally fit in another scene; but glad it wasn’t forced.
The book before this one was not my favorite and I was wary prior to reading this one. This book was written much better and more enjoyable to read as well. This story had a twist that was a first for me in HR. We find it out fairly early and was interesting to read how the relationship developed. If I had to find fault, the dialogue sometimes felt forced and also thought the way it was determined who the villain(s) was seemed to appear out of nowhere. Beyond these two things though I enjoyed this story. The pacing was much better in this book with plenty of turns. Also, while there is only one open door scene, it was very spicy. I do wished there would’ve been enough time at the end to naturally fit in another scene; but glad it wasn’t forced.
August 21, 2020
This has the bones of a really good story but a couple of things niggled me. One was Andrew's acceptance of George which seemed to come surprisingly quickly and I wondered how he would feel when he had a legitimate son who would not be the earl as George was the heir. The other was his fake 'confession' at the end. I never really felt that Emily believed him when he explained why he'd done it. Also, I couldn't understand how they never had a conversation where he told her the date of George's birth which would have made it obvious that the his 'confession' was a pack of lies. So whilst I did enjoy it, the fact that (in my mind) everything wasn't really tied up by the end left me a bit frustrated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2020
Scandal’s Promise is about a wounded war hero who returns from the Napoleonic Wars addicted to his medication. He cares not if he lives or dies until he discovers the woman he once wronged, and still loves, lives nearby and never married.
When his heir is suddenly thrust upon him and mysterious events put everyone he cares about in danger, he begins to change. But before he can expect others to forgive him, he must first learn to forgive himself.
This is the story of forgiveness, redemption, and the healing power of love, set in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This book is FREE through Dec. 7, 2020.
When his heir is suddenly thrust upon him and mysterious events put everyone he cares about in danger, he begins to change. But before he can expect others to forgive him, he must first learn to forgive himself.
This is the story of forgiveness, redemption, and the healing power of love, set in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This book is FREE through Dec. 7, 2020.
May 4, 2021
In Need of a Good Editor
Had Pamela Gibson used a really good editor, Scandal's Promise could have been a pretty good story with engaging characters. Sadly, the author fell into the “wordy” descriptions and mental musings trap. What could have been a likable read turned into a boring read punctuated by serious and relevant moments.
Content 411: This book contains secular and religious swearing as well as sexually intimate scenes.
Had Pamela Gibson used a really good editor, Scandal's Promise could have been a pretty good story with engaging characters. Sadly, the author fell into the “wordy” descriptions and mental musings trap. What could have been a likable read turned into a boring read punctuated by serious and relevant moments.
Content 411: This book contains secular and religious swearing as well as sexually intimate scenes.
April 23, 2022
Meh
This wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it did take me longer than it should have to finish it. I just never got very invested in the relationship between the main characters, i finished it because it was short and I'm stubborn, not because i was at all curious about what would happen in the story. Something about the writing just made it kind of a "meh" book for me.
This wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it did take me longer than it should have to finish it. I just never got very invested in the relationship between the main characters, i finished it because it was short and I'm stubborn, not because i was at all curious about what would happen in the story. Something about the writing just made it kind of a "meh" book for me.
May 2, 2021
Entertaining
An interesting storyline of addiction within the societal rules of the English in the early 1800s. Trust within relationships is also looked at within the confines of the time period.
An interesting storyline of addiction within the societal rules of the English in the early 1800s. Trust within relationships is also looked at within the confines of the time period.
May 4, 2021
It was good enough to read the rest of the series. It wasn’t stellar. If you are looking for a good Regency romance with suspense it will do nicely. I don’t recommend it as a starting point for a new genre.
August 15, 2021
This is the first book I've read from this author. The basic premise is good but the plot moves very slowly. It has very little steam. I feel bad for saying this but I probably won't read this author again.
September 3, 2021
Good story but it was hard to keep my attention on the story. For me Andrew Cardmore is not a manly man, but weaker. Emily gave in in a way, she made him fight his addition but afterwards she forgave him.
October 13, 2022
Promises Broken
Andrew had loved Emily nearly as long as he had known her. He promised to marry her but ended up wed to another. How he hoped he could show her that he really cared for her.
Andrew had loved Emily nearly as long as he had known her. He promised to marry her but ended up wed to another. How he hoped he could show her that he really cared for her.
November 7, 2022
an excellent period piece
Pamela Gibson gets 5-stars not only for her storytelling, but the impeccable research of the time. Excellent character development, plot, twists, and romance.
Pamela Gibson gets 5-stars not only for her storytelling, but the impeccable research of the time. Excellent character development, plot, twists, and romance.
September 1, 2023
A heart felt and emotion filled romance. This has the overarching theme of addiction, lost love, redemption and love found again. Not an easy journey, I'm glad that Andrew and Emily gain their second chance and their happily ever after.
May 4, 2021
Together again
Well written English to!ance riddled with a scandal and kidnapping. Good story with lots of exciting events. With the read.
Well written English to!ance riddled with a scandal and kidnapping. Good story with lots of exciting events. With the read.
May 22, 2021
I haven't read the first 2 books of this series but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. I thought it was a good story and would happily read more Pamela Gibson books.
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November 2, 2022FREE today (October 9, 2022) on Amazon.
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