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Scandalous
Perfect gentleman Christopher Quincy Maitland is sorely tempted by Paisley Vandermeir, a brazen seductress from a family with a tradition of loving unwisely but well
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1991
About the author
Patricia Burroughs
20 books256 followersI love to check out your [yes, your] ratings and comments about the books I love, the books I hate, the books I am not sure I want to read and am trying to decide, and books I'm not sure that I've read before and am skimming your comments to see if they shake a memory loose. But the best is when I can wallow in your love for the books I love and your annoyance for the books that annoy me. Best ever.
I avoid spoilers of any kind so a lot of times I read the first sentence you wrote, think "oh yeah, that is something I want to investigate and/or read!!!" and don't read another word you wrote because I don't want to know the details.
As for me, the analysis and time it takes for me to come up with a real review is beyond calculation. My brain doesn't work that way. I have weird learning disabilities that make it hard to think that way and do that kind of writing while, on the other hand, I love writing fiction and that's my work so yeah, don't spend time writing reviews.
So when I write my thoughts down about a book they are totally subjective and often more about my experience of reading the book than the book itself. I don't want to write spoilers and so I keep my comments broad most of the time.
But I love Goodreads because it's a great big book club where we can all find like-minded readers who enjoy what we enjoy and whose recommendations send us off the new discoveries. So that's why I'm here!
And now, the official bio:
Award-winning screenwriter and bestselling novelist Patricia Burroughs—Pooks—began her writing career in romance with five published novels. She received nominations and recognition from RT Reviews and was a Finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA.
For a time, Pooks was lured away from her novels to pursue a career in screenwriting, where her story-telling gift again won her recognition in the form of a Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
However, one day she woke up with a new story rooting itself into her heart, a story that couldn't be told in a script but needed many more pages to spread out, flex its muscles and take wing. She returned to novels to write the epic fantasy trilogy that begins with This Crumbling Pageant.
Pooks loves dogs, books, movies, and football. A lifelong Anglophile, she treasures her frequent travels in the British Isles doing research for The Fury Triad. She and her high school sweetheart husband are living happily ever after in their hometown of Dallas, Texas.
~oOo~
Find out more about The Fury Triad, Patricia's new fantasy trilogy, at http://furytriad.com.
Want to join Team Fury and help promote these books while getting insider info and extras? Drop Patricia a line at planetpooks at gmail dot com and see if there is space in the group!
I avoid spoilers of any kind so a lot of times I read the first sentence you wrote, think "oh yeah, that is something I want to investigate and/or read!!!" and don't read another word you wrote because I don't want to know the details.
As for me, the analysis and time it takes for me to come up with a real review is beyond calculation. My brain doesn't work that way. I have weird learning disabilities that make it hard to think that way and do that kind of writing while, on the other hand, I love writing fiction and that's my work so yeah, don't spend time writing reviews.
So when I write my thoughts down about a book they are totally subjective and often more about my experience of reading the book than the book itself. I don't want to write spoilers and so I keep my comments broad most of the time.
But I love Goodreads because it's a great big book club where we can all find like-minded readers who enjoy what we enjoy and whose recommendations send us off the new discoveries. So that's why I'm here!
And now, the official bio:
Award-winning screenwriter and bestselling novelist Patricia Burroughs—Pooks—began her writing career in romance with five published novels. She received nominations and recognition from RT Reviews and was a Finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA.
For a time, Pooks was lured away from her novels to pursue a career in screenwriting, where her story-telling gift again won her recognition in the form of a Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
However, one day she woke up with a new story rooting itself into her heart, a story that couldn't be told in a script but needed many more pages to spread out, flex its muscles and take wing. She returned to novels to write the epic fantasy trilogy that begins with This Crumbling Pageant.
Pooks loves dogs, books, movies, and football. A lifelong Anglophile, she treasures her frequent travels in the British Isles doing research for The Fury Triad. She and her high school sweetheart husband are living happily ever after in their hometown of Dallas, Texas.
~oOo~
Find out more about The Fury Triad, Patricia's new fantasy trilogy, at http://furytriad.com.
Want to join Team Fury and help promote these books while getting insider info and extras? Drop Patricia a line at planetpooks at gmail dot com and see if there is space in the group!
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 30, 2014
This book is very much an exploration of couture as atmosphere. With access to accoutrements from her Aunt Izzy that span from the 20s to the 50s, Paisley Vandermeir immerses herself (and by extension the reader) in various epochs of haute couture. This works very well to establish an ethereal mood that I came to enjoy more than I expected that I would. The thing is that Paisley is pretty ethereal herself, though you come to realize how much of that is a defense mechanism for finding herself astride two worlds from such a young age and for such a long time afterwards (though the worlds shifted somewhat over time).
This emotional self defense drives much of the conflict in the story as she tries to manipulate her way through what she considers the family curse without lasting damage (to herself, but also to others). Her rather desperate search for love coupled with her certainty of disappointment might have gotten old or tedious in another novel, but this is where Burroughs' adept sense of mood and place became such an asset. I could see Paisley's desperation as expressed through style, but also the hope buried beneath it. And I came to care about her enough (and see Chris's resolve in ways she couldn't) that I was more than willing to ride out her self-defeating fits and starts in order to get to the good stuff that promised to be behind them. And that promise is more than fulfilled.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that Chris is such a lovely, steady man. Not that he doesn't have his moments of disequilibrium or his own fits and starts. But you can see that he's made of strong stuff and I never worried that he wouldn't stand buff to all that Paisley's insecurities would throw at him. And that bears out, too.
If I have a complaint, it'd actually be that the story is so short. I'm not sure how I'd extend it (if I could), but I reached the end and found myself wanting more. That's not a bad thing, by any means...
A note about editions: This book is available from the marvelous Book View Café. If you pick it up there, not only is it a DRM-free ebook, but a huge percentage of the price ends up in the hands of the author—always a bonus, as far as I'm concerned...
A note about Steamy: Two (or was it three?) explicit scenes of moderate length put this in the upper-mid range of my steam tolerance. That's mostly because the story is short enough that it felt like a lot...
This emotional self defense drives much of the conflict in the story as she tries to manipulate her way through what she considers the family curse without lasting damage (to herself, but also to others). Her rather desperate search for love coupled with her certainty of disappointment might have gotten old or tedious in another novel, but this is where Burroughs' adept sense of mood and place became such an asset. I could see Paisley's desperation as expressed through style, but also the hope buried beneath it. And I came to care about her enough (and see Chris's resolve in ways she couldn't) that I was more than willing to ride out her self-defeating fits and starts in order to get to the good stuff that promised to be behind them. And that promise is more than fulfilled.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that Chris is such a lovely, steady man. Not that he doesn't have his moments of disequilibrium or his own fits and starts. But you can see that he's made of strong stuff and I never worried that he wouldn't stand buff to all that Paisley's insecurities would throw at him. And that bears out, too.
If I have a complaint, it'd actually be that the story is so short. I'm not sure how I'd extend it (if I could), but I reached the end and found myself wanting more. That's not a bad thing, by any means...
A note about editions: This book is available from the marvelous Book View Café. If you pick it up there, not only is it a DRM-free ebook, but a huge percentage of the price ends up in the hands of the author—always a bonus, as far as I'm concerned...
A note about Steamy: Two (or was it three?) explicit scenes of moderate length put this in the upper-mid range of my steam tolerance. That's mostly because the story is short enough that it felt like a lot...
February 8, 2013
Thanks to librarything , the publisher and author for the e-book version of this book.
Set in the early 1990's, Paisley is dead set on escaping the Manhattan high society pressures and rules. Having spent the first seven years of her life in a hippie commune, Paisley never felt comfortable in the wealthy environment she spent the rest of her life in. Her Aunt was the biggest influence in her life and now she was gone.
Christopher Maitland is an "oak". Good looking, dependable, safe, and immune to scandal. Until he meets Paisley.
Paisley helps Christopher see how dull his life is. She has him feeling conflicted about doing what is safe and expected of him , or going against the grain and the stodgy , stuffy , old society expectations.
Paisley never intended to fall for Christopher. Now she must face her insecurities and still stay true to herself.
This is not a full length novel. It's more like a novella. I believe this book was published in the early 90's by Loveswept, originally. Because of the environment the book is set in , the story seems timeless. The Christmas holiday backdrop provides contrast between the couple and their respective upbringing , and another layer of romance.
An absorbing love story , very unique story. I tore through it in one afternoon. Overall an A .
Set in the early 1990's, Paisley is dead set on escaping the Manhattan high society pressures and rules. Having spent the first seven years of her life in a hippie commune, Paisley never felt comfortable in the wealthy environment she spent the rest of her life in. Her Aunt was the biggest influence in her life and now she was gone.
Christopher Maitland is an "oak". Good looking, dependable, safe, and immune to scandal. Until he meets Paisley.
Paisley helps Christopher see how dull his life is. She has him feeling conflicted about doing what is safe and expected of him , or going against the grain and the stodgy , stuffy , old society expectations.
Paisley never intended to fall for Christopher. Now she must face her insecurities and still stay true to herself.
This is not a full length novel. It's more like a novella. I believe this book was published in the early 90's by Loveswept, originally. Because of the environment the book is set in , the story seems timeless. The Christmas holiday backdrop provides contrast between the couple and their respective upbringing , and another layer of romance.
An absorbing love story , very unique story. I tore through it in one afternoon. Overall an A .
January 6, 2013
4 STARS
Scandalous was first published 1991 in Loveswept. I recongized that I had read this book years ago. Could not remember much of the details but it was fun to back and read it again. I probably still have the paperback in a box somewhere.
There are love scenes that I did skip over.
Paisley Vandermeir spent her first seven years in a hippie commune and then to high society after that. Her Aunt Izzy was wild in the 20s and took Paisley and taught her to be free and daring. The rest of the family looked down on her. Paisley loves her Aunt Izzy and all her vintage clothing. Which she wears all the time. Her Aunt is giving everything to charity.
In the Vandermeir thier is always one person that causes a scandalous scene. Her Aunt Izzy fell for a married man and had an affair with him. So Paisley thinks if she picks her scandalous affair than she can get on with her life. First she needs to give something back from her Aunt to her lover.
Christopher Quincy Maitland is at his sister's debut and his grandfather was unwell so Paisley gives it to Christopher and asks him to secretly give it to his grandfather.
Christopher has been engaged for 11 years while he waits for his fiance to finsh school.
Paisley thinks that if she publicly tries to win Christopher that he would be safe because he must really love his fiance to wait so long. She thinks it is the perfect plan. Then things don't fall in the way she thinks. and how strongly she feels for Christopher and Christopher's feelings in return.
Some humor scenes in this book. Lots of love scenes. I think it would be fun to dress up in fancy old clothes but I would be afraid of ruining them.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give it a honest review of it when I was done from Librarything.
Publication Date:November 21, 2012 Book View Cafe publisher 180 pages ASIN: B00AB9GZKY
Scandalous was first published 1991 in Loveswept. I recongized that I had read this book years ago. Could not remember much of the details but it was fun to back and read it again. I probably still have the paperback in a box somewhere.
There are love scenes that I did skip over.
Paisley Vandermeir spent her first seven years in a hippie commune and then to high society after that. Her Aunt Izzy was wild in the 20s and took Paisley and taught her to be free and daring. The rest of the family looked down on her. Paisley loves her Aunt Izzy and all her vintage clothing. Which she wears all the time. Her Aunt is giving everything to charity.
In the Vandermeir thier is always one person that causes a scandalous scene. Her Aunt Izzy fell for a married man and had an affair with him. So Paisley thinks if she picks her scandalous affair than she can get on with her life. First she needs to give something back from her Aunt to her lover.
Christopher Quincy Maitland is at his sister's debut and his grandfather was unwell so Paisley gives it to Christopher and asks him to secretly give it to his grandfather.
Christopher has been engaged for 11 years while he waits for his fiance to finsh school.
Paisley thinks that if she publicly tries to win Christopher that he would be safe because he must really love his fiance to wait so long. She thinks it is the perfect plan. Then things don't fall in the way she thinks. and how strongly she feels for Christopher and Christopher's feelings in return.
Some humor scenes in this book. Lots of love scenes. I think it would be fun to dress up in fancy old clothes but I would be afraid of ruining them.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give it a honest review of it when I was done from Librarything.
Publication Date:November 21, 2012 Book View Cafe publisher 180 pages ASIN: B00AB9GZKY
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December 6, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/6/2021)! 🎁
December 5, 2012
This is a darling little piece of fluff!
Scandalous
is a short romance, originally a Loveswept, with Christmas and couture and longtime scandals, and the delightful layer of history that all good fiction possesses.
Paisley Vandermeir was born on a hippie commune, transplanted at all of seven years old to high society Manhattan, and mentored by her wild Aunt Izzy, whose Roaring 20s exploits still tarnish the family name. Paisley has never had a chance to be respectable, because Vandermeir women are expected to cause scandals. But Paisley has taken care of something she needed to do. Only one more thing is left -- cause the scandal everyone has been waiting for, and then go past it and find her own future.
Christopher Quincy Maitland, the spitting image of Aunt Izzy's scandalous lover, appears safe, dependable, and scandal proof. A touch of flirtation, a spin with all that high society does not expect her to touch, and then Paisley will be free.
But is he scandal proof? And can Paisley free herself from a man whose very glance sets her pulse fluttering in a fashion that is entirely foreign to all her experience?
An enjoyable evening -- Recommended!
Paisley Vandermeir was born on a hippie commune, transplanted at all of seven years old to high society Manhattan, and mentored by her wild Aunt Izzy, whose Roaring 20s exploits still tarnish the family name. Paisley has never had a chance to be respectable, because Vandermeir women are expected to cause scandals. But Paisley has taken care of something she needed to do. Only one more thing is left -- cause the scandal everyone has been waiting for, and then go past it and find her own future.
Christopher Quincy Maitland, the spitting image of Aunt Izzy's scandalous lover, appears safe, dependable, and scandal proof. A touch of flirtation, a spin with all that high society does not expect her to touch, and then Paisley will be free.
But is he scandal proof? And can Paisley free herself from a man whose very glance sets her pulse fluttering in a fashion that is entirely foreign to all her experience?
An enjoyable evening -- Recommended!
November 30, 2012
Paisley grew up on the fringe of high society, never quite fitting in... Her Aunt Izzy, on her deathbed, asks Paisley to return something to an ex-lover from long ago. Aunt Izzy was the one person she could count on and Paisley takes the task seriously, as well as honoring the wishes of her aunt's will. Wearing her aunt's collection of vintage couture makes her stand out, but yet society doesn't appreciate the styles. Except for one Christopher Quincy Maitland. Problem, he's the grandson of her aunt's ex and he's engaged. Like magnets they're attracted, but Paisley fears the Vandermeir family curse, plus she's been hurt many times by family and society, she doesn't trust him or herself. Until she decides to "use" him to fulfill the curse, but make it look like he was the victim. Through circumstance and will, they become entangled.
What happens becomes Scandalous! No spoilers from me--but you won't be disappointed with this romance. It's got a little something for everyone. And sheba, that's Scandalous!
What happens becomes Scandalous! No spoilers from me--but you won't be disappointed with this romance. It's got a little something for everyone. And sheba, that's Scandalous!
March 4, 2013
So I enjoyed this! The writing style kind of reminded me of the 20's and I really liked that. The romance happens quickly, but it works for me. Both characters are figuring out what they want and that it might not be what they assumed they wanted and it makes that they would figure out that what they want is each other.
I received this book for free through a promotion the author did for Dear Author readers. Opinions are my own.
I received this book for free through a promotion the author did for Dear Author readers. Opinions are my own.
December 5, 2012
This is a fun read - especially if you like vintage fashion! Paisley's eclectic personality makes her an interesting heroine. She's like a cool breeze from an open window, but behind her front of sophistication she's got a tender heart and a basketful of fears and doubts. I really enjoyed her story.
December 5, 2012
The old Loveswepts were true classics--romance on the wild side. I love this one with the heroine raised by an old eccentric who can't quite find her place in the wealthy milieu her family once traversed. And the hero is absolutely to die for!
Read
December 17, 2012I wrote this one. Needless to say, I like it. ;-)
December 6, 2012
Such a fun romance read! Review to follow
December 31, 2021
Feels like it's right out of the flapper era, but definitely set in the 90's when you make it sound as if 'CD's' are the latest thing. The writing style is different from most romance authors, but the characters are developed and believable, even if a tad eccentric at times. I really enjoyed this story, though I can't explain why, aside from it being a great romance.
January 7, 2025
1.5/5 at best, though I seem to be in the minority with that! Truth be told I only finished this because it was a very short audio book and the narrator was pleasant enough to listen to. But hey, each to their own, it looks like most people enjoyed the dramatic insta-love vibe that I so clearly wasn’t into!
December 5, 2021
i tried to read this book but found it very hard
June 12, 2013
Why live in the boring present when you have a century's worth of vintage couture to live up to? Why be ordinary with centuries of Vandermeir scandals to shape your destiny?
Paisley Vandermeir was born on a hippie commune, transplanted to high society Manhattan at the vulnerable age of seven, and finally rescued and nurtured by her wild Aunt Izzy, whose Roaring 20s exploits still tarnish the family name. Paisley is the very definition of a "Vandermeir scandal" waiting to happen. It's simply a matter of what and when.
Now, it's Christmas in Manhattan and Paisley Vandermeir has a scandalous scheme to set herself free from society’s expectations once and for all.
Enter Christopher Quincy Maitland, the blond and gorgeous Rock of Gibraltar who carries the weight of his family's fortune on his shoulders--safe, dependable, scandal proof. Or is he?
Got this from the Book View Cafe publisher via the December 2012 LTER batch. Originally published in the 90s, this is re-released in ebook format.
Until aged 7, Paisley lived on a commune, but was then pulled back to live with her blue blood family in Boston. Well aware of her aunt's rebellious nature, and the tradition of one rebellion per generation, she grows up expecting to be one to create a scandal.
In order to get it over and done with, she sets her sight on the safely engaged Christopher, despite her Aunt Izzy and his grandfather seemingly having had an affair when younger. Unfortunately it seems that Christopher isnt willing to play by her rules.
A shortish story, reasonable levels of sex and more interest in the clothes Paisley/Issy wore. The secondary characters are rather one dimensional and rarely touched on - in the end it's not Paisley who causes the scandal!
Paisley Vandermeir was born on a hippie commune, transplanted to high society Manhattan at the vulnerable age of seven, and finally rescued and nurtured by her wild Aunt Izzy, whose Roaring 20s exploits still tarnish the family name. Paisley is the very definition of a "Vandermeir scandal" waiting to happen. It's simply a matter of what and when.
Now, it's Christmas in Manhattan and Paisley Vandermeir has a scandalous scheme to set herself free from society’s expectations once and for all.
Enter Christopher Quincy Maitland, the blond and gorgeous Rock of Gibraltar who carries the weight of his family's fortune on his shoulders--safe, dependable, scandal proof. Or is he?
Got this from the Book View Cafe publisher via the December 2012 LTER batch. Originally published in the 90s, this is re-released in ebook format.
Until aged 7, Paisley lived on a commune, but was then pulled back to live with her blue blood family in Boston. Well aware of her aunt's rebellious nature, and the tradition of one rebellion per generation, she grows up expecting to be one to create a scandal.
In order to get it over and done with, she sets her sight on the safely engaged Christopher, despite her Aunt Izzy and his grandfather seemingly having had an affair when younger. Unfortunately it seems that Christopher isnt willing to play by her rules.
A shortish story, reasonable levels of sex and more interest in the clothes Paisley/Issy wore. The secondary characters are rather one dimensional and rarely touched on - in the end it's not Paisley who causes the scandal!
January 6, 2013
I won a copy of Scandalous by Patricia Burroughs. Paisley was born on a hippie commune, after age 7 spending most of her time with her wild Aunt Izzy. After Aunt Izzy passes away, Paisley is left to return something to an ex-lover of Aunt Izzy's. Wearing vintage clothing and never quite fitting in with the high society of Manhattan. One person finds her very attractive, that is Christopher Quincy Maitland, the grandson of Aunt Izzy's ex-lover. But he already has a fiance of 11 years. How will they handle this, they are drawn to each other like magnets. Fun and enjoyable book , a good way to spend an afternoon or evening.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, rather it be good or bad.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, rather it be good or bad.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews