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Scandal #1
Prelude to a Scandal
From Book 1:
Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught .
Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught .
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 21, 2010
25 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
About the author
Delilah Marvelle
38 books522 followersI spent my youth studying various languages, reading voraciously, and playing the pianoforte. I confess that here ends the extent of my gentle breeding. I was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to my room on many occasions due to these misadventures, I soon discovered the quill and its amazing power. I scribed endless stories that almost invariably surrounded the topic of love, for I felt an inane need to be rescued from a family that did not understand my lust for life. In my mind, King Arthur became my true love and I waited for the day when he would come riding upon his steed and invite me to sit at his round table, not as his queen, but as his knight. To my distress, King Arthur was never to be found anywhere except for in the tip of my quill. And so I led an imaginary life for many, many years. When I finally came of age, my family was further horrified to discover that I had fallen in love with an American. An American King Arthur who became my knight, my husband, my all. I have been blessed beyond reason and am grateful for each day I have with him. What is equally amazing is that I now have the opportunity to share my passion for stories with the public. The reason why I write romance is because it allows me to touch upon the subject of love on a much deeper, more intimate level. Many of the stories I write, many of the stories I will continue to write, will always evolve around love. And yes, gentle readers, it will also evolve around sex as I have no intention of becoming my parents and restraining my characters from what it is they truly desire to do. I challenge you, my readers, to let loose of those corsets that have been strung too tightly due to convention and enjoy 1830 to its fullest."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
November 10, 2010
If you enjoyed this author’s School of Gallantry series then please IGNORE this review. When compared to her earlier series, Prelude to a Scandal is very much ‘more of the same’. If her writing style worked for you, it will likely work for you again. As for me, I DNF’d her debut Mistress of Pleasure halfway through, and for much of the same reasons that made me thoroughly frustrated with Prelude to a Scandal. I wanted to give this author a second try as I know she has a lot of fans, and I had hoped her new series with a new publisher may bring some changes that I'd enjoy. It didn't.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prelude to a Scandal is a light, historical romance romp not meant to be taken seriously. Normally I have no problem suspending disbelief and allowing authors to stretch their version of history – just as long as they can make the story work.
PtaS pairs the sex-addict Radcliff, Duke of Bradford (aka The Rake Extraordinaire), with a feisty young Lady Justine Fedora Palmer, daughter of an African naturalist scientist in trouble with the King for publishing his observations of animal homosexual behavior in the wilds of Africa. Bradford has been the financial backer for the African expeditions for many years, so Justine turns to him for help. She agrees to marry him in exchange for arranging her father’s release from prison.
Justine quickly learns that something is not right with her fiancé, who is trying to avoid her until the wedding. We learn that Radcliff has a ‘problem’ of needing sex all the time. ALL THE TIME. But an incident 8-months earlier left him rethinking his life and so he hides himself in his home, and fires all the female servants who may temp him, and turns celibate. Marriage to Justine allows him to restore his sexual life.
The book primarily focuses on the trials and tribulations of these two finding common ground --and pleasure-- in their marriage. After the marriage, Justine learns more about Radcliff’s past so she holds out on him until he will divulge the secrets of his past, (which isn’t really much of a secret). In his high-dramatic flair, Radcliff refuses to enlighten her on the events of 8-months ago and thus begins his frustrated and troubled marriage.
The cast of characters also includes the diabolic evil brother Carlton, and his beautiful (but much abused) mistress Matilda. Prior to marrying Justine, we learn that Radcliff was once over-the-moon obsessed with Matilda, but she refused him. When Carlton found out, he was so angry that he bestowed a life-size portrait upon his brother of Matilda. (Huh? Yep, I don’t get it either.) Sex-addict Bradford hangs it in his bedchambers so he can enjoy it day and night, all while taking his own pleasures by hand.
To say that Justine and Radcliff had issues adjusting to married life is a big understatement. They could not get it right if it hit them on the head! Radcliff began as a likeable hero, but his mood swings and over dramatic scene exits every time Justine did not please him just got on my nerves. His obsession with sex comes and goes through out the book, while at times he seem to be able to hold out other times he has deep frustrations to deal with. He was crass, rude, and completely self focused. And he keeps the portrait of Matilda, now hanging in the hallway outside of his bedchamber -- even after he is married. To add to my frustration, we learn that much of his problems were because of his deceased mommy, who did not love him enough when he took on the great responsibility of being a Duke at such a young age. (Sorry, but I am soooo done with the plotline of ‘mommy ruined my life so I can never be a normal loving person.’)
Radcliff and Justine run hot and cold with each other through the entire book, over dramatizing every small misunderstanding and then demanding restitution in some form or another to prove their devotion to each other and the marriage (read this book, write this list, do this, do that…etc.) What a head game. One minute they don’t want to talk to the other, than a minute later one of them is insisting they have sex, then again a change of mind… and so on and so on it went until someone takes a dramatic scene exit. We spend weeks watching these two make no real progress in their communication or bedroom pleasures.
{spoiler warning}
There were a few scenes that I found utterly distasteful too, including a scene where he ‘used’ the portrait of Matilda to pleasure himself after he is married – and against a promise he had made with his wife only hours earlier. OMG, this is not a way to get a reader to find your hero endearing or worthy. I didn’t find it funny or sexy, just disturbing. What a cad.
There was another absurd scene where we are left to believe that all the men at a formal ball would be asked to line-up and strip down to near nothing to allow the host to search for a missing broach, while all the women are to leave un-chaperoned so as not to see the men in the buff. That was just too far of a stretch. And again, neither sexy or funny.
{end spoiler warning}
While it did start with an entertaining and amusing opening scene, it quickly turned into a bad version of a historical soap-opera with high-drama, cheesy dialog and predictable outcomes. The couple ran hot and cold with each other for the entire book, and in the end was neither funny nor sexy to read. Too often, the story felt unfocused and scatterbrained. Sadly, I hated the hero and only liked the heroine. And surprisingly, you would think when a book spends so much of the storyline focused on sex issues (sex-addiction, masturbation, animal homosexuality, virgin heroine…etc.) it would be a hot read. But it was only a warm read with a few graphic scenes that may tilt the scale for a few people toward hot.
I got this copy at Netgalley.com as a ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2011
This was only my first read by Ms. Marvelle and I'm sorry to say it was a great disappointment. The premise was interesting, but I just couldn't get into the story or connect with the characters.
Desperate to have her father released from prison, where he's been thrown for publishing his observations on innate buggery in the Animal Kingdom and stating that homosexuality is allowed by God and therefore shouldn't be condemned, Lady Justine Palmer approaches his father's academic patron, the notorious Duke of Bradford (better known to the ton as The Rake Extraordinaire) and offers herself up to him in exchange for his help releasing her father. Braced for surrendering her virginity to a man who (seemingly) presents no wedding prospect, she's shocked when he refuses her offer and proposes marriage instead.
Unbeknownst to Justine, Radcliff Morton, the Duke of Bradford, is as desperate as her. Consumed by his addiction to sex, he's been in seclusion for the last eight months in an effort to reform himself. Convinced that Justine is his last hope of salvation, Radcliff does his best to control the sexual urges that torment his body, knowing that he needs to become a better man for their marriage to work.
That was the basic premise of this book, but there were so many other subjects crammed into the story that it lost its focus. Besides his sex addiction, Radcliff and Justine also had to deal with his "mommy issues", his villainous brother Carlton, his brother's abused mistress Matilda, a gay servant, and other minor problems. It was too much, and I just couldn't make myself care for any of them.
Radcliff had the potential to be a great tortured hero, but his character fizzled. He was described as being a sex addict, but I never saw him acting as one. I was told over and over again that he was a sex addict, but he was one of the most self-controlled heroes I've ever seen. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I don't think a sex addict would be able to control himself like that.
As for Justine, she was a pain. Assuming that Radcliff was indeed a sex addict, I thought she was very insensitive about it and did nothing to help him. I don't know why he put up with her incongruous demands and let her steamroll him, because he got nothing out of it. Not even sex! Their relationship was so unbalanced and unhealthy that I found myself dreading the HEA. Radcliff and Justine did not belong together!
As I mentioned above, this was my one and only read by Ms. Marvelle so far. I usually give new-to-me authors three chances to win me, and this one has been wasted. I have the next two books in this series on my TBR so I'll be reading them soon. I hope they're better than this one. *keeps fingers crossed*
Desperate to have her father released from prison, where he's been thrown for publishing his observations on innate buggery in the Animal Kingdom and stating that homosexuality is allowed by God and therefore shouldn't be condemned, Lady Justine Palmer approaches his father's academic patron, the notorious Duke of Bradford (better known to the ton as The Rake Extraordinaire) and offers herself up to him in exchange for his help releasing her father. Braced for surrendering her virginity to a man who (seemingly) presents no wedding prospect, she's shocked when he refuses her offer and proposes marriage instead.
Unbeknownst to Justine, Radcliff Morton, the Duke of Bradford, is as desperate as her. Consumed by his addiction to sex, he's been in seclusion for the last eight months in an effort to reform himself. Convinced that Justine is his last hope of salvation, Radcliff does his best to control the sexual urges that torment his body, knowing that he needs to become a better man for their marriage to work.
That was the basic premise of this book, but there were so many other subjects crammed into the story that it lost its focus. Besides his sex addiction, Radcliff and Justine also had to deal with his "mommy issues", his villainous brother Carlton, his brother's abused mistress Matilda, a gay servant, and other minor problems. It was too much, and I just couldn't make myself care for any of them.
Radcliff had the potential to be a great tortured hero, but his character fizzled. He was described as being a sex addict, but I never saw him acting as one. I was told over and over again that he was a sex addict, but he was one of the most self-controlled heroes I've ever seen. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I don't think a sex addict would be able to control himself like that.
As for Justine, she was a pain. Assuming that Radcliff was indeed a sex addict, I thought she was very insensitive about it and did nothing to help him. I don't know why he put up with her incongruous demands and let her steamroll him, because he got nothing out of it. Not even sex! Their relationship was so unbalanced and unhealthy that I found myself dreading the HEA. Radcliff and Justine did not belong together!
As I mentioned above, this was my one and only read by Ms. Marvelle so far. I usually give new-to-me authors three chances to win me, and this one has been wasted. I have the next two books in this series on my TBR so I'll be reading them soon. I hope they're better than this one. *keeps fingers crossed*
July 28, 2017
Entretenido pero me da la sensación de que como
January 2, 2011
As w/ her previous books, I hung my disbelief on the moon B4 clicking away, otherwise it wouldn’t have been possible to enjoy the fluffiness & implausible situations the H/h find themselves in, ‘cuz there were a few things that made my shaved eyebrows meet my receding hairline. Let’s just say that only in a parallel universe U’d see the esteemed Wulfric Bedwyn line up against the wall & drop his pants for the flimsy excuse of finding the host’s missing pendant, but Radcliff, the Duke of McSlut is game for anything his illegit bro cooks up ‘cuz he’s familiar w/ half-bro’s modus operandi. Another eyebrow twitching moment 4 me (Justine contemplating mating positions on wedding nite’) :
<>
Say what ? It oozes the weird vibe a la Jessica Simpson’s dad talking ‘bout her infamous Xtra-sized cans. I guess I also need to broaden my horizons ‘cuz what I’ve read so far can fit into a stamp. It’s the 1st time evah that I read a book where a Duke of McRake can get away w/ employing a queer lady’s man (who just happens to be a fangurl of the Duchess’s jailbait dad’s observations), it’s a bit tough to swallow that he lets another man see his wife’s bangin’ body in all her glory, I don’t care if Henri swings for the other team, it’s still odd. Whatevah salary he’s paying those male servants to keep their traps shut must’ve been ginormous ‘cuz nobody raises a red flag. And, whazzup w/ everyone in the household – not just the H/h – inexplicably having a problem w/ shutting a door gently, every grand entrance / exit is punctuated w/ a door slam. Last but not least, my gaydar has utterly failed me, ‘cuz I didn’t pick up 1 plot twist @ all, I just didn’t see it coming. Even Radcliff, the poster boy for Viagra, didn’t ! haha… It’s purrfectly N-sync w/ the theme.
I liked this imperfect book & both H/h. I could relate to the hero & his sense of worthlessness in the self-control dept. I thought DM did a pretty decent job in stirring the serious subject of Radcliff’s uncontrollable obsession w/ sprinkles of humor. It sure has a darker tone & less hilarity than her SOG series, it may push some peeps’ buttons, but they’re all part & package of the book’s charm. SA is a serious disease but the conflict wasn’t overcooked when threaded w/ the romance. Radcliff may not be the most likeable hero in romancelandia, but he’s sympathetic as opposed to pathetic. He acknowledges that he’s a slut to his physical needs & wants to become a bettah man for Justine. Just like most addicts, he has his ups & downs in overcoming his obsession & suffers relapses. I did buy the reasoning of how his demons originated, evolved, projected onto his marriage, how the horrific consequences of his obsession shaped the way he is now, tho’ I didn’t necessarily buy the resolution. Even w/ the sweet HEA, I felt that the book ended too abruptly on that element, in the sense that it coulda been highlighted more by showing – not merely telling – us that he has the willpower to beat his disease. I wanted to see a more compelling story arc, like it’s still an ongoing process even tho’ Justine has instilled the belief that he can conquer it. I appreciated him more that getting hitched wasn’t an insta cure. I luv DM’s no-neon-sign style, but her luv scenes lost some smoke compared to previous ones, prolly ‘cuz of the switch to HQN. Justine was the purrfect match to his problematic self. She’s sassy, unorthodox in her thoughts & actions due to her unusual upbringing, that’s what made her so refreshing & attractive to Radcliffe, who sees her as his salvation. She gives as good as she takes, articulates her displeasure in letting him know how disrespectful he is & berates him to lose the foul language. He’s trying to be on the right path & strives to make Justine happy, sometimes ends up w/ disastrous results. It’s a holey road & Justine helps steer him towards the end of a long dark tunnel, even if she’s not always successful in her attempts to chip away @ his soul. He breaks a sacred promise & inadvertently hurts her @ times, but misguided as his intentions are, somehow I nevah doubted his luv for her, it just takes a while for him to connect the dots. He’s cynical & thinks the value of luv is over-rated ‘cuz mommie dearest had been a constant liar & a testament that actions speak louder than words. I luved Justine. She’s fearless & was not afraid to do the right thing when she provided shelter & friendship to BIL’s abused pin-up mistress. PTAS wasn’t always a boatload of fun, but as w/ her previous page-turners, I couldn’t stay away once I started it. Bonus point that Radcliff comes clean w/ his li’l secret right ‘bout halfway thru’ (hard to say w/ e-book). I hope H/H will show up in the next installments. It’s a crime that SOG series were CX’d. I hope HX won’t repeat itself this time around.
“I vow to protect you from everything, Justine,” he whispered. “Even from myself, if need be.”
<>
Say what ? It oozes the weird vibe a la Jessica Simpson’s dad talking ‘bout her infamous Xtra-sized cans. I guess I also need to broaden my horizons ‘cuz what I’ve read so far can fit into a stamp. It’s the 1st time evah that I read a book where a Duke of McRake can get away w/ employing a queer lady’s man (who just happens to be a fangurl of the Duchess’s jailbait dad’s observations), it’s a bit tough to swallow that he lets another man see his wife’s bangin’ body in all her glory, I don’t care if Henri swings for the other team, it’s still odd. Whatevah salary he’s paying those male servants to keep their traps shut must’ve been ginormous ‘cuz nobody raises a red flag. And, whazzup w/ everyone in the household – not just the H/h – inexplicably having a problem w/ shutting a door gently, every grand entrance / exit is punctuated w/ a door slam. Last but not least, my gaydar has utterly failed me, ‘cuz I didn’t pick up 1 plot twist @ all, I just didn’t see it coming. Even Radcliff, the poster boy for Viagra, didn’t ! haha… It’s purrfectly N-sync w/ the theme.
I liked this imperfect book & both H/h. I could relate to the hero & his sense of worthlessness in the self-control dept. I thought DM did a pretty decent job in stirring the serious subject of Radcliff’s uncontrollable obsession w/ sprinkles of humor. It sure has a darker tone & less hilarity than her SOG series, it may push some peeps’ buttons, but they’re all part & package of the book’s charm. SA is a serious disease but the conflict wasn’t overcooked when threaded w/ the romance. Radcliff may not be the most likeable hero in romancelandia, but he’s sympathetic as opposed to pathetic. He acknowledges that he’s a slut to his physical needs & wants to become a bettah man for Justine. Just like most addicts, he has his ups & downs in overcoming his obsession & suffers relapses. I did buy the reasoning of how his demons originated, evolved, projected onto his marriage, how the horrific consequences of his obsession shaped the way he is now, tho’ I didn’t necessarily buy the resolution. Even w/ the sweet HEA, I felt that the book ended too abruptly on that element, in the sense that it coulda been highlighted more by showing – not merely telling – us that he has the willpower to beat his disease. I wanted to see a more compelling story arc, like it’s still an ongoing process even tho’ Justine has instilled the belief that he can conquer it. I appreciated him more that getting hitched wasn’t an insta cure. I luv DM’s no-neon-sign style, but her luv scenes lost some smoke compared to previous ones, prolly ‘cuz of the switch to HQN. Justine was the purrfect match to his problematic self. She’s sassy, unorthodox in her thoughts & actions due to her unusual upbringing, that’s what made her so refreshing & attractive to Radcliffe, who sees her as his salvation. She gives as good as she takes, articulates her displeasure in letting him know how disrespectful he is & berates him to lose the foul language. He’s trying to be on the right path & strives to make Justine happy, sometimes ends up w/ disastrous results. It’s a holey road & Justine helps steer him towards the end of a long dark tunnel, even if she’s not always successful in her attempts to chip away @ his soul. He breaks a sacred promise & inadvertently hurts her @ times, but misguided as his intentions are, somehow I nevah doubted his luv for her, it just takes a while for him to connect the dots. He’s cynical & thinks the value of luv is over-rated ‘cuz mommie dearest had been a constant liar & a testament that actions speak louder than words. I luved Justine. She’s fearless & was not afraid to do the right thing when she provided shelter & friendship to BIL’s abused pin-up mistress. PTAS wasn’t always a boatload of fun, but as w/ her previous page-turners, I couldn’t stay away once I started it. Bonus point that Radcliff comes clean w/ his li’l secret right ‘bout halfway thru’ (hard to say w/ e-book). I hope H/H will show up in the next installments. It’s a crime that SOG series were CX’d. I hope HX won’t repeat itself this time around.
“I vow to protect you from everything, Justine,” he whispered. “Even from myself, if need be.”
February 9, 2011
I sped through this in about 2 or 3 hours. I wonder if the spacious margins, generous line spacing, and largish text were chosen to bulk out the book, so that a reader could feel the same familiar heft as when holding another, wordier romance paperback?
Caris wrote a very thoughtful review/reaction and then offered to lend out the book.* I haven't met a bandwagon I didn't like so I jumped on. His assessment is accurate, that this book is rape-free. High five, author! I have to admit, as my foggy brain reads I don't pick out the rape from other violence against women so until the issue was discussed by others, I guess I didn't realize just how much rape did feature in romance novels. I don't like that I found myself thinking this one was ridiculous because the main man didn't enact some violence upon the main woman when she was pert, defiant, and shut him out of her bedroom...have I come to expect force in these books?
The sexytimes! They were pretty sexy of a time. But not, I think, realistic. Are they ever, in romance books? The magical healing and all-powerful ladybits make an appearance.
I remember something that bothered me! The main woman kept thinking how she was going to "tame" him and how he would be great once this or that changed about him. What is it with needing to change someone, not accepting someone's flaws? I guess in this case there were some flaws that needed addressing, but they way it's presented, change or else!, I don't like.
I've, uh, already forgotten the plot. It's light and pleasant. I don't think these books are for me. But I would do it again for the sweet picture it came with.*
* http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
He was expecting some bestiality and was disappointed. But he added a lovely sketch of what he'd hoped for, hah!
Caris wrote a very thoughtful review/reaction and then offered to lend out the book.* I haven't met a bandwagon I didn't like so I jumped on. His assessment is accurate, that this book is rape-free. High five, author! I have to admit, as my foggy brain reads I don't pick out the rape from other violence against women so until the issue was discussed by others, I guess I didn't realize just how much rape did feature in romance novels. I don't like that I found myself thinking this one was ridiculous because the main man didn't enact some violence upon the main woman when she was pert, defiant, and shut him out of her bedroom...have I come to expect force in these books?
The sexytimes! They were pretty sexy of a time. But not, I think, realistic. Are they ever, in romance books? The magical healing and all-powerful ladybits make an appearance.
I remember something that bothered me! The main woman kept thinking how she was going to "tame" him and how he would be great once this or that changed about him. What is it with needing to change someone, not accepting someone's flaws? I guess in this case there were some flaws that needed addressing, but they way it's presented, change or else!, I don't like.
I've, uh, already forgotten the plot. It's light and pleasant. I don't think these books are for me. But I would do it again for the sweet picture it came with.*
* http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
He was expecting some bestiality and was disappointed. But he added a lovely sketch of what he'd hoped for, hah!
December 18, 2010
There are few authors out there with so few books under her belt that willingly test the boundries of their readers like DM. I will admit to being a fangurl and loving her School of Gallentry series and hated the fact she didn't get to finish the series. But that doesn't mean that I can't take a step back and be honest how I feel about a book.
So here we are with her Scandal series and here she is dragging us right up the precipice of our comfort zone and daring us to jump. So we have Justine who has had a tendre for Radcliff, the Duke of Bradford forever. So naturally when her dad gets put in prison for writing a book about how animals are not so very apart from man when it comes to the act of sex.
Justine offers herself as payment if Radcliff will help her dad. Color her surprised when instead he wants to marry her in six weeks. She agrees knowing that he is not the man she knew 8 months ago as she has heard that he now has a scar on his face. When he refuses to see her up until the time of the wedding she grows even more alarmed.
But Justine doesn't really know the 1/2 of it. Her husband has other deeper issues to contend with other than the loss of some of his prettiness. Can she survive this addiction and can their marriage? Is he strong enough to overcome the obsession? It is a condition that we hear about all to often in today's times.
There are other things that are going to push your boundries in this book and I hope that you can get around them to see the picture of the entire book. Did I like some of what took place, no, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be wrote about. This is also a darker book then what I am used to from her. TSoG series had a lightheartness about it that this book doesn't have. It was as good, just different, IMO.
I didn't give it 5 stars because after all the book pushed some of my boundries a little too hard, but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I must have as I read it in a matter of hours. I do hope Carlton finds a deep dark privy to fall into and I hope that you give this new series a try.
So here we are with her Scandal series and here she is dragging us right up the precipice of our comfort zone and daring us to jump. So we have Justine who has had a tendre for Radcliff, the Duke of Bradford forever. So naturally when her dad gets put in prison for writing a book about how animals are not so very apart from man when it comes to the act of sex.
Justine offers herself as payment if Radcliff will help her dad. Color her surprised when instead he wants to marry her in six weeks. She agrees knowing that he is not the man she knew 8 months ago as she has heard that he now has a scar on his face. When he refuses to see her up until the time of the wedding she grows even more alarmed.
But Justine doesn't really know the 1/2 of it. Her husband has other deeper issues to contend with other than the loss of some of his prettiness. Can she survive this addiction and can their marriage? Is he strong enough to overcome the obsession? It is a condition that we hear about all to often in today's times.
There are other things that are going to push your boundries in this book and I hope that you can get around them to see the picture of the entire book. Did I like some of what took place, no, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be wrote about. This is also a darker book then what I am used to from her. TSoG series had a lightheartness about it that this book doesn't have. It was as good, just different, IMO.
I didn't give it 5 stars because after all the book pushed some of my boundries a little too hard, but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I must have as I read it in a matter of hours. I do hope Carlton finds a deep dark privy to fall into and I hope that you give this new series a try.
gave-it-a-shot
July 5, 201720%, and my face got stuck in the "what is that SMELL?" look people make when the dumpsters are ripe.
August 18, 2016
My Review:
The Plot:
After Lady Justine's father publishes his "offensive" findings of the natural world's innate predilection for buggery, he's thrown into prison by the king for suggesting, even scientifically, that homosexuality is God's creation and therefore should not be condemned. Desperate to have her father released, Justine offers up her body for one night to the powerfully influential Duke of Bradford in exchange for her father's release but is shocking offered marriage in response.
Justine has long been enamored with Bradford since her arrival in London two years ago after her father wrapped up his studies in Cape Town, Africa. Knowing that Bradford sponsored her father's studies endeared him to her already but his smooth charm, kind eyes, and his fearlessness to talk to her despite her unconventional upbringing, instantly made him her friend. When scandal erupts leaving Bradford ensconced in his home shunning all society, Justine takes pity on him and writes him weekly despite the fact that she never once receives a response. Her letters, not flowery or painted with adoration, merely tell Bradford about her daily activities and the activities of the ton. But the offering of Justine's virginity sure gets her a response, with marriage nonetheless, and while his strange stipulations demand that they not see each other until the day of their wedding, he'll make sure her father is released from prison in exchange.
Justine represents Radcliff Morton's, the Duke of Bradford's, last hope of conquering his self degrading addiction to pleasure. For eight months he's shunned all society, all females to be more precise, even going to the extent of dismissing all his female servants. For eight months he's denied himself any physical pleasure hoping to squash the addiction that endlessly plagues his thoughts and body. Knowing that he has a chance to be the man he wants to be with Justine, he offers her marriage but in a slightly despicable and decidedly rakish manner by bribing her with her father's release. Upon his marriage with Justine, he realizes immediately that he's picked the right woman for not only does she have the potential to make him a better man, but she's also dangerously close to stealing his heart. Now if only he can keep from screwing up this one and final shot at happiness.
The Heroine:
Lady Justine Palmer reminded me strongly of Lindsay Lohan's "Mean Girls" character. After spending the entirety of her adolescence in Africa, Justine is wonderfully unconventional with a tantalizing combination of innocence and worldliness. It's this combination that makes her ideal for Radcliff. She's not some untried miss, she's seen real life, has lived by the rules of the animal kingdom. Not only that, but her parents are open, caring, and encourage her independence while also wishing for her to make a happy match in society.
Recognizing instantly that Radcliff suffers from a serious problem, Justine isn't deterred but determined to help him by teaching him not only respect for her and himself, but by teaching his broken heart how to love. Sexually inhibited, Justine encompasses all the pleasure Radcliff could ever hope for while also showing him that sex isn't just about pleasure, but about connection and intimacy. It's Justine's knowledge of love as well as her patience that gifts her with an almost magical ability to heal a man desperate to be whole.
The Hero:
Radcliff is a man with the odds stacked up against him. He suffers from an all consuming sex addiction, has a brother who loathes him, was shown by his mother that the words "I love you" are completely meaningless, and brutally castrates himself as worthless. But what makes Radcliff special is his desire to be a good man and a good husband to Justine. He wants to beat everything that's held him down and he knows from the first moment that he's lucky to have the one woman that has the very real potential to change him. Justine gives him hope and while he makes numerous, sometimes heartbreaking mistakes, Radcliff never fails to pick himself up and try over and over again to better himself.
My Final Thoughts:
PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL is as unconventional a historical as its wonderfully unconventional characters. Exploring such taboo plot arcs as sodomy, pornography and sex addiction, its author Delilah Marvelle unveils a believable and heart rendering story that rings with a sublime truth. Sex addiction was undoubtedly suffered by men and women of this time period and to boldly explore a sickness that is scoffed at even in today's society gives new meaning to the word courage.
What baffled me but also made for a pleasurable reading experience, is that the subjects Marvelle explores could have easily saturated the novel in darkness. Radcliff's suffering is profoundly felt and the sickness he's plagued with becomes detrimental time and again to his marriage with Justine. Yet this darkness is wonderfully balanced with laugh-out-loud humor and scenes that had me in stitches. Justine herself is quite hilarious. She brings a much needed light to Radcliff's world as well as shining her light on the story, relieving the reader time and again of the burden we share with Radcliff.
I must confess to being nervous of Marvelle using the horrid Big Misunderstanding with PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL. There's many a moment that could have been misconstrued and made to further the plot but Marvelle never makes a mockery of her characters or their plight ensuring that the trust between Radcliff and Justine is strong but of course earned.
Delilah Marvelle has definitely earned her place on my list of must read authors. Her unconventional and thoroughly researched history makes for hours of simply good reading. She challenges her readers to open their mind to a new brand of hero, one that makes you fall in love him for a whole new set of reasons. Delivering a refreshing and inspiring read, Marvelle is much recommended by this blogger.
For historical romance readers tired of tried and true and desperate for something that will blow your hair back in terms of intensity, humor, and romance, look no farther than Delilah Marvelle's, PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL. Enjoy!
The Plot:
After Lady Justine's father publishes his "offensive" findings of the natural world's innate predilection for buggery, he's thrown into prison by the king for suggesting, even scientifically, that homosexuality is God's creation and therefore should not be condemned. Desperate to have her father released, Justine offers up her body for one night to the powerfully influential Duke of Bradford in exchange for her father's release but is shocking offered marriage in response.
Justine has long been enamored with Bradford since her arrival in London two years ago after her father wrapped up his studies in Cape Town, Africa. Knowing that Bradford sponsored her father's studies endeared him to her already but his smooth charm, kind eyes, and his fearlessness to talk to her despite her unconventional upbringing, instantly made him her friend. When scandal erupts leaving Bradford ensconced in his home shunning all society, Justine takes pity on him and writes him weekly despite the fact that she never once receives a response. Her letters, not flowery or painted with adoration, merely tell Bradford about her daily activities and the activities of the ton. But the offering of Justine's virginity sure gets her a response, with marriage nonetheless, and while his strange stipulations demand that they not see each other until the day of their wedding, he'll make sure her father is released from prison in exchange.
Justine represents Radcliff Morton's, the Duke of Bradford's, last hope of conquering his self degrading addiction to pleasure. For eight months he's shunned all society, all females to be more precise, even going to the extent of dismissing all his female servants. For eight months he's denied himself any physical pleasure hoping to squash the addiction that endlessly plagues his thoughts and body. Knowing that he has a chance to be the man he wants to be with Justine, he offers her marriage but in a slightly despicable and decidedly rakish manner by bribing her with her father's release. Upon his marriage with Justine, he realizes immediately that he's picked the right woman for not only does she have the potential to make him a better man, but she's also dangerously close to stealing his heart. Now if only he can keep from screwing up this one and final shot at happiness.
The Heroine:
Lady Justine Palmer reminded me strongly of Lindsay Lohan's "Mean Girls" character. After spending the entirety of her adolescence in Africa, Justine is wonderfully unconventional with a tantalizing combination of innocence and worldliness. It's this combination that makes her ideal for Radcliff. She's not some untried miss, she's seen real life, has lived by the rules of the animal kingdom. Not only that, but her parents are open, caring, and encourage her independence while also wishing for her to make a happy match in society.
Recognizing instantly that Radcliff suffers from a serious problem, Justine isn't deterred but determined to help him by teaching him not only respect for her and himself, but by teaching his broken heart how to love. Sexually inhibited, Justine encompasses all the pleasure Radcliff could ever hope for while also showing him that sex isn't just about pleasure, but about connection and intimacy. It's Justine's knowledge of love as well as her patience that gifts her with an almost magical ability to heal a man desperate to be whole.
The Hero:
Radcliff is a man with the odds stacked up against him. He suffers from an all consuming sex addiction, has a brother who loathes him, was shown by his mother that the words "I love you" are completely meaningless, and brutally castrates himself as worthless. But what makes Radcliff special is his desire to be a good man and a good husband to Justine. He wants to beat everything that's held him down and he knows from the first moment that he's lucky to have the one woman that has the very real potential to change him. Justine gives him hope and while he makes numerous, sometimes heartbreaking mistakes, Radcliff never fails to pick himself up and try over and over again to better himself.
My Final Thoughts:
PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL is as unconventional a historical as its wonderfully unconventional characters. Exploring such taboo plot arcs as sodomy, pornography and sex addiction, its author Delilah Marvelle unveils a believable and heart rendering story that rings with a sublime truth. Sex addiction was undoubtedly suffered by men and women of this time period and to boldly explore a sickness that is scoffed at even in today's society gives new meaning to the word courage.
What baffled me but also made for a pleasurable reading experience, is that the subjects Marvelle explores could have easily saturated the novel in darkness. Radcliff's suffering is profoundly felt and the sickness he's plagued with becomes detrimental time and again to his marriage with Justine. Yet this darkness is wonderfully balanced with laugh-out-loud humor and scenes that had me in stitches. Justine herself is quite hilarious. She brings a much needed light to Radcliff's world as well as shining her light on the story, relieving the reader time and again of the burden we share with Radcliff.
I must confess to being nervous of Marvelle using the horrid Big Misunderstanding with PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL. There's many a moment that could have been misconstrued and made to further the plot but Marvelle never makes a mockery of her characters or their plight ensuring that the trust between Radcliff and Justine is strong but of course earned.
Delilah Marvelle has definitely earned her place on my list of must read authors. Her unconventional and thoroughly researched history makes for hours of simply good reading. She challenges her readers to open their mind to a new brand of hero, one that makes you fall in love him for a whole new set of reasons. Delivering a refreshing and inspiring read, Marvelle is much recommended by this blogger.
For historical romance readers tired of tried and true and desperate for something that will blow your hair back in terms of intensity, humor, and romance, look no farther than Delilah Marvelle's, PRELUDE TO A SCANDAL. Enjoy!
January 18, 2015
Es una historia que a simple vista parece la típica novela rosa romántica, pero que esconde mucho más en sus páginas.
Trata temas espinosos como son la adicción al sexo, la homosexualidad o la sodomía. Y es muy sorprendente, porque siendo esos temas tabú en aquella época, la autora logra dar una visión diferente a lo que todas las novelas románticas no han enseñado.
Cuenta con diálogos y ecenas muy divertidas, aunque si he visto que el romance entre los protagonistas cojeaba y pecaba de apresurado.
Trata temas espinosos como son la adicción al sexo, la homosexualidad o la sodomía. Y es muy sorprendente, porque siendo esos temas tabú en aquella época, la autora logra dar una visión diferente a lo que todas las novelas románticas no han enseñado.
Cuenta con diálogos y ecenas muy divertidas, aunque si he visto que el romance entre los protagonistas cojeaba y pecaba de apresurado.
December 5, 2010
Prelude to a Scandal was just. so. unexpected. Tangling with an addiction during any time period is a difficult subject, let alone in a historical romance where addiction is not even an acknowledged medical issue. A sex addiction, no less, leads to a very difficult path to a HEA. Justine knows that Bradford's dropped off the face of her planet, but she doesn't know why. And with her father in prison, she needs his money and societal position to get him out, and she's willing to give him herself in return. But he doesn't want just her body, he wants her as his wife. I think her African background is a good way to make her less naive; an innocent miss would not serve the purpose in book, so while she's innocent in body, she's knowledgable in mind. He's terrified that he can't control himself, and so he went into seclusion to prove that he can be a good husband only she forces his hand and the wedding comes early. I loved Bradford's perspective; he is fighting so hard to stay true and prove that he's not guided by his sexual drive. Justine sometimes comes off as a bit stuffy, particularly the lady's guide; I just didn't feel that it added much to the story, and I'm not sure that even in that situation that it really meshed well with his problem. I do think that her firmness with him was what he needed to force him into line. It was nice to see them both work hard at being better people. I also liked the secondary plot with his brother; it gave this a bit more grittiness than the usual Harlequin historical romance, and this is an author I'd definitely return to, for my personal or library collection.
October 8, 2012
So the fluff binge-reading train keeps rolling on, no matter how hard I keep trying to buckle down and hit up some more serious reads again.
There were just a couple of weird scenes near the front of the book comparing human mating with animals that threw me off, and this author uses a few bedroom terms that are so 1980's (every time I see a word like "member" I have flashbacks of reading Cosmo in high school, and that wasn't even the worst of it).
What made me really fall into the story though was the author's ability to write interesting characters and witty banter. I never get tired of a couple's back-and-forth sparring if it's done well. It was very cute that instead of chapters, each section was labeled scandal one, two, etc. There really wasn't any "scandal" at all to be honest! The female lead was reading from a book throughout the story about how to avoid a scandal, so that much was sort of misleading!
Justine is a great character, determined to break the sexual deviant that's taken over her man. He's a self-proclaimed "sex addict" and insists to his new betrothed that he can not be around other women (including female housekeepers, hah) ever or he will break down and do something to regret. She, of course, does the only thing that makes sense to her - deny him what he wants every step of the way! Yes, she's a bit of the optimist, but her stubborn nature eventually manages to overcome his pride. It's a basic HR, so you know what's coming, but I still enjoyed the outcome.
There were just a couple of weird scenes near the front of the book comparing human mating with animals that threw me off, and this author uses a few bedroom terms that are so 1980's (every time I see a word like "member" I have flashbacks of reading Cosmo in high school, and that wasn't even the worst of it).
What made me really fall into the story though was the author's ability to write interesting characters and witty banter. I never get tired of a couple's back-and-forth sparring if it's done well. It was very cute that instead of chapters, each section was labeled scandal one, two, etc. There really wasn't any "scandal" at all to be honest! The female lead was reading from a book throughout the story about how to avoid a scandal, so that much was sort of misleading!
Justine is a great character, determined to break the sexual deviant that's taken over her man. He's a self-proclaimed "sex addict" and insists to his new betrothed that he can not be around other women (including female housekeepers, hah) ever or he will break down and do something to regret. She, of course, does the only thing that makes sense to her - deny him what he wants every step of the way! Yes, she's a bit of the optimist, but her stubborn nature eventually manages to overcome his pride. It's a basic HR, so you know what's coming, but I still enjoyed the outcome.
December 26, 2012
Didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Here's the skinny on the story, but some of it may be considered spoilers, soooo...
Rainy afternoon fun!
Or not.
Here's the skinny on the story, but some of it may be considered spoilers, soooo...
Rainy afternoon fun!
Or not.
November 5, 2010
When I read in the Introduction that this is a book about a sex addict's life in the 1820s I thought that this should be an interesting and rather different historical novel. I had also never read anything by this author before, so I approached the book with an open mind and some anticipation because of the subject matter. I must now say that I was very disappointed.
To start with, the style is stilted and there is an excessive use of short sentences that do not help the story to flow. The story itself does not excite much feeling and the love (sex) scenes are dry and mechanical. There is no, or negligable, description of the social setting of that age nor any delving into the sex addict's emotional and psychological state. All we get is a nobleman who believes he is a sex adict and in order to overcome his addiction he first abstains from sex and then gets married. His wife withholds herself from him to a large extent, he falls in love with her and reforms.
The potential for an interesting story is there, but unfortunately Ms Marvelle does not seem to be the one to write it.
To start with, the style is stilted and there is an excessive use of short sentences that do not help the story to flow. The story itself does not excite much feeling and the love (sex) scenes are dry and mechanical. There is no, or negligable, description of the social setting of that age nor any delving into the sex addict's emotional and psychological state. All we get is a nobleman who believes he is a sex adict and in order to overcome his addiction he first abstains from sex and then gets married. His wife withholds herself from him to a large extent, he falls in love with her and reforms.
The potential for an interesting story is there, but unfortunately Ms Marvelle does not seem to be the one to write it.
May 7, 2013
How I feel about the book, the image that says it all:
This book started great, but after the 3rd chapter or so it went downhill. We have the heroine who is about 50% likable who's in love with the hero, or, at least, what she imagines him to be. Then we have the hero who allegedly is a nymphomaniac(I didn't see it in the ~70% that I read). I kind of swallowed everything that happens in this book(even the priceless emerald necklace thrown into a fountain because it brought back bad memories to the hero) this was just too much.
This book started great, but after the 3rd chapter or so it went downhill. We have the heroine who is about 50% likable who's in love with the hero, or, at least, what she imagines him to be. Then we have the hero who allegedly is a nymphomaniac(I didn't see it in the ~70% that I read). I kind of swallowed everything that happens in this book(even the priceless emerald necklace thrown into a fountain because it brought back bad memories to the hero) this was just too much.
April 10, 2019
Demi membayar utang ayahnya yg dipenjara krn mengumumkan risetnya ttg perkawinan sesama jenis yg diobservasi dari hewan-hewan yg ditelitinya, Justine hrs membayarnya dgn menikahi Radcliff, Duke Bradford.
Radcliff memiliki masa kelam yg membuat dirinya mendapat "cinderamata" codet di pipinya. Pernikahannya dgn Justine yg semula tenang seperti air beriak tetiba menjadi tsunami sejak kedatangan Matilda, ex simpanan adik haram Radcliff, Carlton.
Dibilang rumit tapi gak rumit juga. Carlton ini layaknya antagonis di film maupun buku novel, menyimpan rasa iri yg tinggi pd Radcliff. Dengan sengaja "mengumpankan" Radcliff dgn lukisan Matilda, yg menyebabkan Radcliff "hilang kontrol" hingga insiden yg menyebabkan luka codet tsb.
Kini Matilda yg sedang hamil tua minta perlindungan pd Radcliff. Disini saya memihak pd Radcliff, seharusnya Matilda diusir saja. Tapi Justine yg sifatnya rada "aneh" ini malah memaksa Radcliff utk menerima Matilda. Dan mulailah masalah terjadi, dari cinta sepihak Matilda dan Carlton yg nyaris membuat Justine terbunuh.
Dgn semua huru hara ini, ortu Justine keberatan Justine masih berada di London dan memutuskan membawa Justine ke Capetown, Afrika Selatan (makin aneh, krn setahu saya wanita yg sudah menikah, adalah hak suaminya utk memutuskan - sudah bukan orangtuanya lagi yg menentukan). Dan sumpah!!! makin aneh lagi Radcliff memutuskan ikut berbohong pd istrinya utk dipisahkan dari dirinya, pdhl Radcliff sangat sayang pd istrinya ini.
Saya gak habis pikir apa maunya author ini, pdhl plot cerita sudah menarik di awal cerita sebelum jadi geje di pertengahan akhir. Bagusnya, kedua insan ini saling jujur satu sama lain (pengecualian pembohongan Cape Town tsb). Radcliff kesulitan utk mengontrol libidonya, maka dari itu dia melakukan "terapi aneh" dgn meniadakan pelayan wanita di rumahnya, dan malah menyediakan pelayan pria yg gay utk istrinya. Maksudnya novel ini mau mendukung LGBT atau bagaimana? Entahlah!!!
Radcliff memiliki masa kelam yg membuat dirinya mendapat "cinderamata" codet di pipinya. Pernikahannya dgn Justine yg semula tenang seperti air beriak tetiba menjadi tsunami sejak kedatangan Matilda, ex simpanan adik haram Radcliff, Carlton.
Dibilang rumit tapi gak rumit juga. Carlton ini layaknya antagonis di film maupun buku novel, menyimpan rasa iri yg tinggi pd Radcliff. Dengan sengaja "mengumpankan" Radcliff dgn lukisan Matilda, yg menyebabkan Radcliff "hilang kontrol" hingga insiden yg menyebabkan luka codet tsb.
Kini Matilda yg sedang hamil tua minta perlindungan pd Radcliff. Disini saya memihak pd Radcliff, seharusnya Matilda diusir saja. Tapi Justine yg sifatnya rada "aneh" ini malah memaksa Radcliff utk menerima Matilda. Dan mulailah masalah terjadi, dari cinta sepihak Matilda dan Carlton yg nyaris membuat Justine terbunuh.
Dgn semua huru hara ini, ortu Justine keberatan Justine masih berada di London dan memutuskan membawa Justine ke Capetown, Afrika Selatan (makin aneh, krn setahu saya wanita yg sudah menikah, adalah hak suaminya utk memutuskan - sudah bukan orangtuanya lagi yg menentukan). Dan sumpah!!! makin aneh lagi Radcliff memutuskan ikut berbohong pd istrinya utk dipisahkan dari dirinya, pdhl Radcliff sangat sayang pd istrinya ini.
Saya gak habis pikir apa maunya author ini, pdhl plot cerita sudah menarik di awal cerita sebelum jadi geje di pertengahan akhir. Bagusnya, kedua insan ini saling jujur satu sama lain (pengecualian pembohongan Cape Town tsb). Radcliff kesulitan utk mengontrol libidonya, maka dari itu dia melakukan "terapi aneh" dgn meniadakan pelayan wanita di rumahnya, dan malah menyediakan pelayan pria yg gay utk istrinya. Maksudnya novel ini mau mendukung LGBT atau bagaimana? Entahlah!!!
June 28, 2020
Uzun zamandır puanlama bile vermeyen ben sırf bu kitap için 1 verdim. Elimde olsa bol eksili puan verirdim. Hayır ben neden kapağa bakıp listeme almışım ki bu kitabı 🤔 Millet okuyup yorum yazmış, puanlanmış, neden dikkate almam sanki...
Kitapta ne bir kurgu ne bir olay... Üzülerek söylemeliyim ki tamamen BOŞ bulduğum bir hikayeydi. Yatak sporuna saplantılı bir beyefendi ve onun bu saplantısını düzeltmeye takmış bir hanımefendinin saçmalamasını okumaya çalıştım. Ama ne var biliyor musunuz? Bu saplantı bildiğin normal bir kadın-erkek ilişkisi... Bende değişik istek-arzuları felan var sandım.
Ah bir de sözde kötü bir olay yaşayan bir kadın var ama üzerinde durulma aralığı çok az... Aslında her konu da böyle. Hiç bir olaya derinlemesine girilmemiş her şey yüzeyseldi . Sırf yarım kalmasın diye okudum ama zaman israfı başka bir şey değildi . Okumam da uzun sürdü. Birde skandaldan nasıl kaçınılır diye bir kitaba danışmanları 😱 Güzelce işlense belki iyi bir şey çıkardı ortaya ama yok olmamış.
Kızımız babasını kurtarsın diye dükümüze kendini teklif eder. Kendini inzivaya çeken , kadın perhizine giren dükte artık adam olmalıyım diye kızımıza evlenme teklif eder.
Evlenirler...
Saçmalarlar...
Kitap biter...
Cidden bu kadar...😒
***
"Saygı, insanların her zaman aynı fikirde olduğu anlamına gelmez, (...)"
Bu söz güzeldi.
Kitapta ne bir kurgu ne bir olay... Üzülerek söylemeliyim ki tamamen BOŞ bulduğum bir hikayeydi. Yatak sporuna saplantılı bir beyefendi ve onun bu saplantısını düzeltmeye takmış bir hanımefendinin saçmalamasını okumaya çalıştım. Ama ne var biliyor musunuz? Bu saplantı bildiğin normal bir kadın-erkek ilişkisi... Bende değişik istek-arzuları felan var sandım.
Ah bir de sözde kötü bir olay yaşayan bir kadın var ama üzerinde durulma aralığı çok az... Aslında her konu da böyle. Hiç bir olaya derinlemesine girilmemiş her şey yüzeyseldi . Sırf yarım kalmasın diye okudum ama zaman israfı başka bir şey değildi . Okumam da uzun sürdü. Birde skandaldan nasıl kaçınılır diye bir kitaba danışmanları 😱 Güzelce işlense belki iyi bir şey çıkardı ortaya ama yok olmamış.
Kızımız babasını kurtarsın diye dükümüze kendini teklif eder. Kendini inzivaya çeken , kadın perhizine giren dükte artık adam olmalıyım diye kızımıza evlenme teklif eder.
Evlenirler...
Saçmalarlar...
Kitap biter...
Cidden bu kadar...😒
***
"Saygı, insanların her zaman aynı fikirde olduğu anlamına gelmez, (...)"
Bu söz güzeldi.
April 16, 2018
leído en Dic 2014
No estuvo tan mal, fue entretenida!!
No estuvo tan mal, fue entretenida!!
July 21, 2020
For once, I completely agree with the GR of 3.45 (actually it should be lower)
My face was scrunched up with a Jimmy Fallon EW face for the whole first half that I unbelievably made it thru. Where do I start.....
How about the heroine. Ok, it starts off with her trying to find a way to get her father out of prison. Why is he is prison? For publishing a pamphlet in London on his observations of wild animals in Africa having homosexual activities amongst each other... and of African natives conducting sexual activities with wild animals. From my understanding, his reasoning in publishing the pamphlet was to encourage the idea that sodomy and homosexuality is ok. Well, the King of England and many others did NOT like that and threw his ass in jail. I'm sorry... when I am trying to RELAX and read a sweet romance story, I definitely do not need it starting off with images of female gorillas pleasuring each other, or some poor gazelle getting molested by a bushman. Come on!
So the only person that the heroine feels that she can turn to, is our hero, as he is the only person that has financially supported her fathers "research". So many unanswered questions in this book. One never answered or understood was WHY did our hero ever get involved in supporting this heroine's father's research. It's not like he was overly interested in research and education, he was only known for being a man whore.
Which bring us to the next point, the hero. This author was trying to be daring and edgy I think, by having our hero suffer from sexual addiction. I personally think she went overboard though. I don't personally know a sex addict, but this guy was bipolar nuts. He fired all of his female staff and employed only males to be maids wearing aprons and such. (so that he would not be tempted to sexually ravish one of his female maids) He even appoints one of the male staff to be his new wife's lady's maid to give her baths, etc. Like that would really happen. Anyway, this hero then remained celibate for 8 months leading up to their wedding. He even refused to meet with the heroine before the wedding, as he was afraid he would pounce on her. On their wedding night, he refused to have sex with her because he was afraid of raping her. Really? She was begging for the consummation, but he just couldn't trust himself to go easy on her. Later on, he goes from avoiding her kisses to growling at her to stop resisting or he will take her by force. The strangest thing. It was like he changed into a raping werewolf out of control of his actions. I'm no specialist in sex addiction, but I assumed it was craving sex all of the time, not necessarily losing control and raping someone.
Just an asinine attempt of a story.
My face was scrunched up with a Jimmy Fallon EW face for the whole first half that I unbelievably made it thru. Where do I start.....
How about the heroine. Ok, it starts off with her trying to find a way to get her father out of prison. Why is he is prison? For publishing a pamphlet in London on his observations of wild animals in Africa having homosexual activities amongst each other... and of African natives conducting sexual activities with wild animals. From my understanding, his reasoning in publishing the pamphlet was to encourage the idea that sodomy and homosexuality is ok. Well, the King of England and many others did NOT like that and threw his ass in jail. I'm sorry... when I am trying to RELAX and read a sweet romance story, I definitely do not need it starting off with images of female gorillas pleasuring each other, or some poor gazelle getting molested by a bushman. Come on!
So the only person that the heroine feels that she can turn to, is our hero, as he is the only person that has financially supported her fathers "research". So many unanswered questions in this book. One never answered or understood was WHY did our hero ever get involved in supporting this heroine's father's research. It's not like he was overly interested in research and education, he was only known for being a man whore.
Which bring us to the next point, the hero. This author was trying to be daring and edgy I think, by having our hero suffer from sexual addiction. I personally think she went overboard though. I don't personally know a sex addict, but this guy was bipolar nuts. He fired all of his female staff and employed only males to be maids wearing aprons and such. (so that he would not be tempted to sexually ravish one of his female maids) He even appoints one of the male staff to be his new wife's lady's maid to give her baths, etc. Like that would really happen. Anyway, this hero then remained celibate for 8 months leading up to their wedding. He even refused to meet with the heroine before the wedding, as he was afraid he would pounce on her. On their wedding night, he refused to have sex with her because he was afraid of raping her. Really? She was begging for the consummation, but he just couldn't trust himself to go easy on her. Later on, he goes from avoiding her kisses to growling at her to stop resisting or he will take her by force. The strangest thing. It was like he changed into a raping werewolf out of control of his actions. I'm no specialist in sex addiction, but I assumed it was craving sex all of the time, not necessarily losing control and raping someone.
Just an asinine attempt of a story.
January 16, 2011
By reading the back cover blurb for this book you would expect the story to be about "the battle between the lady and the rake is about to begin". Which it is.....Lady Justine is willing to become her friends (I just can't think of a better word right now) mistress in exchange for him helping to get her father out of prison for his book on his views on animals, sex, and how they are similar to humans. Justine is very surprised when Radcliff, Duke of Bradford, makes a different offer to her instead, he wants to marry her in six weeks time but they can not see each other, as he has gotten a terrible scar on his face due to his...problem.
That brings us to what else this book is about. When you open the book and read the Dear Reader letter, you learn that Radcliff is dealing with a sex addiction problem. Which really leads to some, um, interesting happenings in the book that definitely pushed my comfort zone area and left me shaking my head a bit. But Ms Marvelle does make the request to set aside what we think of 1829 and allow her to give us her version of 1829. So, I did try to do that and with saying that, this actually was a very interesting book to read. I did not love it but I did not feel like I was wasting my time reading it. It definitely makes you think that this probably really did happen during this time and I thought the author did a fairly good job handling it.
Overall, I give this book 3 1/2 stars. What dragged it down a bit for me was how Radcliff suddenly had an "aha" moment as to why he acted the way he did and I didn't quite feel that. Also, he had quite a few mood swings and with his problem, even though the romance between Justine and Radcliff seemed very genuine and true, I'm just not sure if it is deep enough to outlast everything. And then there is his (rotten) brothers pregnant mistress, Miranda who is part of the book. I didn't really like her and I thought her twist she added was a bit too much and not needed. There are two more books in this trilogy, Once Upon a Scandal and The Perfect Scandal which I am looking forward to reading. But this book reminds me to always check for that Dear Reader letter so you know what you are getting yourself into because the back blurb may not always define it so clearly! :)
That brings us to what else this book is about. When you open the book and read the Dear Reader letter, you learn that Radcliff is dealing with a sex addiction problem. Which really leads to some, um, interesting happenings in the book that definitely pushed my comfort zone area and left me shaking my head a bit. But Ms Marvelle does make the request to set aside what we think of 1829 and allow her to give us her version of 1829. So, I did try to do that and with saying that, this actually was a very interesting book to read. I did not love it but I did not feel like I was wasting my time reading it. It definitely makes you think that this probably really did happen during this time and I thought the author did a fairly good job handling it.
Overall, I give this book 3 1/2 stars. What dragged it down a bit for me was how Radcliff suddenly had an "aha" moment as to why he acted the way he did and I didn't quite feel that. Also, he had quite a few mood swings and with his problem, even though the romance between Justine and Radcliff seemed very genuine and true, I'm just not sure if it is deep enough to outlast everything. And then there is his (rotten) brothers pregnant mistress, Miranda who is part of the book. I didn't really like her and I thought her twist she added was a bit too much and not needed. There are two more books in this trilogy, Once Upon a Scandal and The Perfect Scandal which I am looking forward to reading. But this book reminds me to always check for that Dear Reader letter so you know what you are getting yourself into because the back blurb may not always define it so clearly! :)
December 24, 2010
From the wilds of England's haute society to the wilds of South Africa, this is a tale that proves love and fun and laughter do all go hand in hand...
Justine is a liberal-minded young lady. A most unusual circumstance for any young lady entering the London Ton. She is loyal to her family and to those she loves. Her love is tested when her father is arrested and offers herself to the one man she deems can save him and restore his freedom, the Duke of Bradford.
His Grace is Lord Palmer's patron and agrees to help Justine free her father... on the condition that they marry once he is no longer imprisoned.
So starts the tale of their journey to an everlasting love and the prelude to a scandal that will turn their and England's worlds upside down and inside out. All, of course, while being hilarious and intense and emotional.
I loved Justine--she's bold, brassy and beautiful. She goes for what she wants and isn't backing down, even when she is afraid. And she is afraid--that her father will not be free. She willingly enters into a bargain with the Duke of Bradford to ensure her father's freedom and sets about proving to him that she is not going to let anything or anyone get in the way of her life. Nor will she accept anything less than Bradford's love.
Bradford reminds me of a reticent chap--one who is afraid to be himself, nor comfortable in his own skin, around anyone. He guards himself and his emotions, so he is never disappointed. However, he knows Justine is the one to thaw his wall of ice and get him back to the world of the living. Bradford is also a hunk. Yes, a HUNK. H. U. N. K. I do love hunks. Especially hunks who are baffled by their women and the love that they have for them.
Throughout most of this story, I laughed, cried (yes, I admit it) and... MAY HAVE snorted wine out of my nose, though I make no such claim. *ahem*
I would definitely re-read Prelude to a Scandal when I want something fun and witty to get back into the reading mode and I recommend this book to those who like laughter in their romances.
Justine is a liberal-minded young lady. A most unusual circumstance for any young lady entering the London Ton. She is loyal to her family and to those she loves. Her love is tested when her father is arrested and offers herself to the one man she deems can save him and restore his freedom, the Duke of Bradford.
His Grace is Lord Palmer's patron and agrees to help Justine free her father... on the condition that they marry once he is no longer imprisoned.
So starts the tale of their journey to an everlasting love and the prelude to a scandal that will turn their and England's worlds upside down and inside out. All, of course, while being hilarious and intense and emotional.
I loved Justine--she's bold, brassy and beautiful. She goes for what she wants and isn't backing down, even when she is afraid. And she is afraid--that her father will not be free. She willingly enters into a bargain with the Duke of Bradford to ensure her father's freedom and sets about proving to him that she is not going to let anything or anyone get in the way of her life. Nor will she accept anything less than Bradford's love.
Bradford reminds me of a reticent chap--one who is afraid to be himself, nor comfortable in his own skin, around anyone. He guards himself and his emotions, so he is never disappointed. However, he knows Justine is the one to thaw his wall of ice and get him back to the world of the living. Bradford is also a hunk. Yes, a HUNK. H. U. N. K. I do love hunks. Especially hunks who are baffled by their women and the love that they have for them.
Throughout most of this story, I laughed, cried (yes, I admit it) and... MAY HAVE snorted wine out of my nose, though I make no such claim. *ahem*
I would definitely re-read Prelude to a Scandal when I want something fun and witty to get back into the reading mode and I recommend this book to those who like laughter in their romances.
July 5, 2015
I am not even quite sure what I just read. The majority of the book was confusing to me, in that the characters seemed to swing back and forth. The hero, in his POV, would admit to himself that he loved the heroine, then in the next breath, tell her that love means nothing and that he can never love. The heroine was flighty, and constantly reversed her position on how she felt about the hero. I don’t even know how to explain it. She would tell him to do something, he’d do it, and then she’d find some other reason why it was wrong (he didn’t respect her?) and force them apart.
Then there was the whole sexual obsession thing with Radcliff. Even though I’m finished with the book, I’m still not sure what it was. Like, was he just a lusty man who couldn’t bear to be sexually frustrated, so he took his pleasures wherever he could find them, even by his own hand? Or did he actually have a problem? I don’t know. I DON’T KNOW. And yet, it was oddly central to the plot, this obsession of his, because it drove the two apart and I’m not really sure about any of it. Radcliff actually stops himself from having sex with Justine on their wedding night for no reason that made any sense. And then Justine makes him promise not to masturbate. Which is a thing. Because, you know, once you’re so in love with someone, you don’t want to think about having sex with others (that I can buy) or even finishing yourself off (that I don’t buy).
Then there was the whole thing with Radcliff’s brother and the brother’s mistress and I’m not even sure what the point of that was. Drive Justine and Radcliff together? Certain things happened between Radcliff’s brother and Justine that were there and then forgotten and I don’t know why it was never resolved.
This book raised a lot of questions that were never really answered. The only reason I didn’t stop reading it – and I probably should have – was that it was a library book and I was at the cabin and didn’t want to run out of readable books? Definitely better off as a DNF, since I don’t even really know what I just read.
Then there was the whole sexual obsession thing with Radcliff. Even though I’m finished with the book, I’m still not sure what it was. Like, was he just a lusty man who couldn’t bear to be sexually frustrated, so he took his pleasures wherever he could find them, even by his own hand? Or did he actually have a problem? I don’t know. I DON’T KNOW. And yet, it was oddly central to the plot, this obsession of his, because it drove the two apart and I’m not really sure about any of it. Radcliff actually stops himself from having sex with Justine on their wedding night for no reason that made any sense. And then Justine makes him promise not to masturbate. Which is a thing. Because, you know, once you’re so in love with someone, you don’t want to think about having sex with others (that I can buy) or even finishing yourself off (that I don’t buy).
Then there was the whole thing with Radcliff’s brother and the brother’s mistress and I’m not even sure what the point of that was. Drive Justine and Radcliff together? Certain things happened between Radcliff’s brother and Justine that were there and then forgotten and I don’t know why it was never resolved.
This book raised a lot of questions that were never really answered. The only reason I didn’t stop reading it – and I probably should have – was that it was a library book and I was at the cabin and didn’t want to run out of readable books? Definitely better off as a DNF, since I don’t even really know what I just read.
May 11, 2017
Me estreno con esta autora, y me ha sorprendido. Una historia dinámica, bien escrita, con un protagonista masculino que resulta encantador en un principio y que te acaba enamorando. Ella, una mujer decidida que tiene muy claro lo que quiere y va a por ello. Buenos toques de humor, cierta originalidad en el conflicto y en la relación de pareja y una trama secundaria que apoya a la perfección la principal hacen que la novela se lea rápido y deje buen sabor de boca. Una estupenda lectura para evadirte un rato de todo y constatar que la voluntad del ser humano solo tiene el límite que uno mismo decida ponerle. Recomendable si buscas algo ligero o para esos momentos de resaca lectora, porque atrapa desde el principio.
March 13, 2020
3 Stars
February 3, 2021
Para mí, regular. Reconozco que la escritora escribe bien, de hecho lo hace muy bien pero no me gustaron esos "saltos en el tiempo" crees que va a seguir en el siguiente capítulo con el momento que está relatando y resulta que nos sitúa -por ejemplo- dos semanas más tarde sin más explicación tampoco conecté demasiado con los personajes.
December 21, 2024
I can't say that this book is worse than other books of this genre. Maybe it's just bad timing but it was so obvious what will happen next. Some interesting/original parts though.
January 13, 2011
(this was originally published on Book Lovers Inc)
Prelude to a Scandal is different. Now different can either be good or bad so let me tell you about it and you'll decide for yourself. (ok it's a good kind of different). This is the 1st book in the Scandal series, and scandals there are in this book! lol While reading it, I kept thinking 'how is that I can't stop reading when I would usually have run away?' I think the answer is that Delilah pulled it off where others have failed. I won't lie, it's a pretty scandalous story *wink* but I found myself completely absorbed and I just couldn't stop reading.
Bradford is a sex-addict, this 'obsession' as he calls it, is literally ruling his life. He really can't help himself and he is never satisfied. Now, something bad happened to him a few months ago and he decided to change and get married to Justine. Bradford is absolutely drool-worthy, even with his new scarred face. Justine has been raised in Africa where her father has been studying 'mammal reproduction', Bradford has been his sponsor for years. Now Justine's father is in prison for having published the results of his research stating that homosexuality is not wrong. Justine is ready to do anything to help her father...even to offer herself to a wicked rake like Bradford.
Usually I would have a problem with most of the scandals happening in this book. I mean come ON, when i tried summarizing it to Susi she went all 'O_O and you liked it?' And yes I really did anyway lol. I can't talk about what happens without spoiling the book so I'll be vague. I really like Bradford, I love his struggle to keep control of his mind when his body is demanding he ravages the woman in front of him. I found that the chapters about him were just captivating. I loved being in his head. Justine is a wild woman trying to fit in but failing for the most part. She is exactly perfect for Bradford.
I won't deny it, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It's not your usual historical romance. For once, it's very very sexy! The heroine might still be a virgin but she isn't naive and knows quite a lot about sex...at least in theory. This is a really good book I enjoyed reading from start to end. It shocked me a few times (well with such a title it was bound to happen *wink*) and still I cant wait to read Once Upon a Scandal, the 2nd book in the series. I recommend this book to any romance lover who wants to be shocked a little *g*
I give Prelude to a Scandal 4 Bookies.
Prelude to a Scandal is different. Now different can either be good or bad so let me tell you about it and you'll decide for yourself. (ok it's a good kind of different). This is the 1st book in the Scandal series, and scandals there are in this book! lol While reading it, I kept thinking 'how is that I can't stop reading when I would usually have run away?' I think the answer is that Delilah pulled it off where others have failed. I won't lie, it's a pretty scandalous story *wink* but I found myself completely absorbed and I just couldn't stop reading.
Bradford is a sex-addict, this 'obsession' as he calls it, is literally ruling his life. He really can't help himself and he is never satisfied. Now, something bad happened to him a few months ago and he decided to change and get married to Justine. Bradford is absolutely drool-worthy, even with his new scarred face. Justine has been raised in Africa where her father has been studying 'mammal reproduction', Bradford has been his sponsor for years. Now Justine's father is in prison for having published the results of his research stating that homosexuality is not wrong. Justine is ready to do anything to help her father...even to offer herself to a wicked rake like Bradford.
Usually I would have a problem with most of the scandals happening in this book. I mean come ON, when i tried summarizing it to Susi she went all 'O_O and you liked it?' And yes I really did anyway lol. I can't talk about what happens without spoiling the book so I'll be vague. I really like Bradford, I love his struggle to keep control of his mind when his body is demanding he ravages the woman in front of him. I found that the chapters about him were just captivating. I loved being in his head. Justine is a wild woman trying to fit in but failing for the most part. She is exactly perfect for Bradford.
I won't deny it, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It's not your usual historical romance. For once, it's very very sexy! The heroine might still be a virgin but she isn't naive and knows quite a lot about sex...at least in theory. This is a really good book I enjoyed reading from start to end. It shocked me a few times (well with such a title it was bound to happen *wink*) and still I cant wait to read Once Upon a Scandal, the 2nd book in the series. I recommend this book to any romance lover who wants to be shocked a little *g*
I give Prelude to a Scandal 4 Bookies.
October 26, 2010
This Series has the making of Historical Romance Greatness
We are the accumulation of where we have been and how we have lived our lives up to and including the day we exist in. Each of us has both the visible and invisible scars of what has brought us to the place we presently live our life and in fact the way we live our life and it shows people what we are made of, this character cannot be found in an instructional manual you need real life experiences for depth to your being.
Lady Justine Fedora Palmer was brought up by unconventional parents who believed in allowing their daughter the full extent of freedom and liberties which were most uncommon for the time and cause a stir when she comes to proper London and tries to assimilate into the Ton. On the other hand Radcliff Edwin Morton, the fourth Duke of Bradford was given a most conventional upbringing but he grew up to be The Rake Extraordinaire and turned a passion into an obsession with an inability to control his cravings.
Is it possible for just one woman to please a man with a ravenous appetite – well perhaps and when Justine approaches Radcliff with an offer to get her father freed from an unjust incarceration he counters with not a mere relationship but a marriage that will provide him with the one missing piece he feels will complete him – a partner. Justine is convinced she is the person who can save Radcliff but it appears at times she has taken on a completely out of control situation in the form of a husband and wonders if she is woman enough for this man. Is Justine going to be strong enough to convince Radcliff to rid himself of the guilt and shame he walks around with and begin to enjoy life and possible fall in love with her? She is a hopeless romantic who truly knows the depth of Radcliff’s soul and wants him to see himself as she does and know that together their partnership is one that will not trap him but set him free.
The ride they take together in and out of the bedroom is a wild one with mistresses, a French lady’s man that is a man, crazy in-laws and some wild requests from the Duchess not the Duke – who saw that coming?
Delilah Marvelle has always written cutting edge historical romance and is one to test the boundaries and explore the less discussed side of life. Ms. Marvelle never shows darkness without light which is why her books discuss the subjects of addiction and alternative life styles and explore these as fact not fiction but in the context of a back story and how it affects the characters who are the heart of the story. This book will at times shock you but in the end will absolutely pleasure you with romance.
We are the accumulation of where we have been and how we have lived our lives up to and including the day we exist in. Each of us has both the visible and invisible scars of what has brought us to the place we presently live our life and in fact the way we live our life and it shows people what we are made of, this character cannot be found in an instructional manual you need real life experiences for depth to your being.
Lady Justine Fedora Palmer was brought up by unconventional parents who believed in allowing their daughter the full extent of freedom and liberties which were most uncommon for the time and cause a stir when she comes to proper London and tries to assimilate into the Ton. On the other hand Radcliff Edwin Morton, the fourth Duke of Bradford was given a most conventional upbringing but he grew up to be The Rake Extraordinaire and turned a passion into an obsession with an inability to control his cravings.
Is it possible for just one woman to please a man with a ravenous appetite – well perhaps and when Justine approaches Radcliff with an offer to get her father freed from an unjust incarceration he counters with not a mere relationship but a marriage that will provide him with the one missing piece he feels will complete him – a partner. Justine is convinced she is the person who can save Radcliff but it appears at times she has taken on a completely out of control situation in the form of a husband and wonders if she is woman enough for this man. Is Justine going to be strong enough to convince Radcliff to rid himself of the guilt and shame he walks around with and begin to enjoy life and possible fall in love with her? She is a hopeless romantic who truly knows the depth of Radcliff’s soul and wants him to see himself as she does and know that together their partnership is one that will not trap him but set him free.
The ride they take together in and out of the bedroom is a wild one with mistresses, a French lady’s man that is a man, crazy in-laws and some wild requests from the Duchess not the Duke – who saw that coming?
Delilah Marvelle has always written cutting edge historical romance and is one to test the boundaries and explore the less discussed side of life. Ms. Marvelle never shows darkness without light which is why her books discuss the subjects of addiction and alternative life styles and explore these as fact not fiction but in the context of a back story and how it affects the characters who are the heart of the story. This book will at times shock you but in the end will absolutely pleasure you with romance.
December 29, 2010
I think I got this one right; it is Wednesday. Earlier today we had a guest post by Travis Hiltz on some graphic novel history (we usually reserve that for Friday) and tomorrow I am putting up a digital short story post we usually pop in on Saturday. Go figure, short week and another awesome holiday, Happy New Year to everyone; I hope you enjoy your festivities.
Okay business aside let’s get into Prelude to a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle. Color me surprised, I am not sure what shade that may be, but that I am. I’m still getting used to reading romance novels and there seems to be a lot of territory the novels in this genre cover. This one is a historical romance with a twist; let’s get to the pertinent information shall we:
” Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught… “
To say that I had some fun with this is understatement. Justine is a really good character: filled with witty banter, right to the point, sharp tongue, and above all she’s a handful. Delilah Marvelle sets the time period well and makes the historical element of the novel blend in and be a piece of what we are engaging in, not the whole. The time she has spent researching the period and the patience she has devoted into bringing it to us is not lost, but a very subtle sub current.
Prelude to a Scandal is a nice way for me to close out the year on Romantic Wednesday. It is a strong, historical romance that is long on entertainment, well- crafted characters, great narrative and excellent sub-plots. I beseech you then, is there much more one could ask of this novel? I think not. Take a leap and have some surprisingly good fun whether you are a fan of this genre or not, let Lady Justine work her charms on you will not be wagering for naught.
Here is her website: www.DelilahMarvelle.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Okay business aside let’s get into Prelude to a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle. Color me surprised, I am not sure what shade that may be, but that I am. I’m still getting used to reading romance novels and there seems to be a lot of territory the novels in this genre cover. This one is a historical romance with a twist; let’s get to the pertinent information shall we:
” Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught… “
To say that I had some fun with this is understatement. Justine is a really good character: filled with witty banter, right to the point, sharp tongue, and above all she’s a handful. Delilah Marvelle sets the time period well and makes the historical element of the novel blend in and be a piece of what we are engaging in, not the whole. The time she has spent researching the period and the patience she has devoted into bringing it to us is not lost, but a very subtle sub current.
Prelude to a Scandal is a nice way for me to close out the year on Romantic Wednesday. It is a strong, historical romance that is long on entertainment, well- crafted characters, great narrative and excellent sub-plots. I beseech you then, is there much more one could ask of this novel? I think not. Take a leap and have some surprisingly good fun whether you are a fan of this genre or not, let Lady Justine work her charms on you will not be wagering for naught.
Here is her website: www.DelilahMarvelle.com
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
December 7, 2010
Published on Romancereaderatheart.com
According to the back cover, Prelude to a Scandal appears to be one of those heroine offers herself up to rake for marriage to save family. In some ways, that’s exactly what it is, but there’s also a Letter to the Readers behind the front cover that introduces two of the more important plot points: sodomy and sex addiction. You see, Justine’s father is currently in jail for publishing a paper that essentially says sodomy is natural and man should take his cue from the animal kingdom and embrace rather than shun sodomy. Second, Radcliff suffers from an uncontrollable sex addiction, and spends most of the book trying to keep his insatiable need for sex from scaring away his new wife.
While I didn’t enjoy Prelude to a Scandal as much as I could have, it wasn’t because of these unusual topics. I actually thought it was refreshing to see a romance tackle a topic that’s usually considered taboo but had to have been present in that time. However, I did think that the reader needed some more warning than just the letter to readers on the inside cover. Some mention of the delicate nature of the stories in the back cover would have been appreciated.
What makes Prelude to a Scandal a captivating book is the grittiness of the prose. This is not a book filled with flowery language and purple prose. Given the seriousness of Radcliff’s addiction, I appreciated that. The problem for me was I never really connected with Justine or Radcliffe. I didn’t really believe that Justine loved Radcliffe; I believe she had a crush on him when she was younger, but that doesn’t translate into love for me. I thought Radcliffe was a walking erection and while I’m willing to believe in how his addiction developed, I don’t believe that just the love of a good woman was enough to cure him.
Prelude to a Scandal is the first in a three book series released back to back to back. I’m not ready to put Delilah Marvelle on my autobuy list, but this was a different enough of a read that I would at least be interested in finding out the plots of the next books and deciding then.
According to the back cover, Prelude to a Scandal appears to be one of those heroine offers herself up to rake for marriage to save family. In some ways, that’s exactly what it is, but there’s also a Letter to the Readers behind the front cover that introduces two of the more important plot points: sodomy and sex addiction. You see, Justine’s father is currently in jail for publishing a paper that essentially says sodomy is natural and man should take his cue from the animal kingdom and embrace rather than shun sodomy. Second, Radcliff suffers from an uncontrollable sex addiction, and spends most of the book trying to keep his insatiable need for sex from scaring away his new wife.
While I didn’t enjoy Prelude to a Scandal as much as I could have, it wasn’t because of these unusual topics. I actually thought it was refreshing to see a romance tackle a topic that’s usually considered taboo but had to have been present in that time. However, I did think that the reader needed some more warning than just the letter to readers on the inside cover. Some mention of the delicate nature of the stories in the back cover would have been appreciated.
What makes Prelude to a Scandal a captivating book is the grittiness of the prose. This is not a book filled with flowery language and purple prose. Given the seriousness of Radcliff’s addiction, I appreciated that. The problem for me was I never really connected with Justine or Radcliffe. I didn’t really believe that Justine loved Radcliffe; I believe she had a crush on him when she was younger, but that doesn’t translate into love for me. I thought Radcliffe was a walking erection and while I’m willing to believe in how his addiction developed, I don’t believe that just the love of a good woman was enough to cure him.
Prelude to a Scandal is the first in a three book series released back to back to back. I’m not ready to put Delilah Marvelle on my autobuy list, but this was a different enough of a read that I would at least be interested in finding out the plots of the next books and deciding then.
October 31, 2012
Una novela extraña, con personajes singulares y situaciones poco habituales en una narración de este tipo.
Vale, él, duque de Bradford, es un libertino y está asqueado de sí mismo. Pero creo que ahí termina el cliché masculino. Es un personaje complicado que va dando tumbos, perdido, sin saber realmente lo que desea de la vida. Está vacío, hueco por dentro, ansía ser salvado pero no cree ser merecedor de ello. Totalmente imperfecto, mete la pata constantemente en su relación con su flamante nueva esposa, Justine.
Justine está perdidamente enamorada de él. O eso cree. Aunque la verdad es que está enamorada de la imagen que tiene del duque, de las pocas veces que se han visto.
Es una mujer extraña, diferente, debido a que se ha criado en áfrica, muy lejos de la rígida sociedad londinense. Es franca, honesta, arrojada; nada ni nadie puede echarle el freno. Ni siquiera Bradford.
La forma en que empieza la novela es absolutamente original y nos da una muestra bastante clara de lo que podremos encontrar más allá de las primeras páginas. Un vaivén de sentimientos encontrados, de decisiones precipitadas que pueden llevar al caos mas absoluto en una relación entre dos personas que nada tienen en común.
Personajes masculinos mentalmente torturados y físicamente marcados hay muchos, pero este Bradford me ha llegado al alma. ¿Por qué? No lo sé, sinceramente. Quizá la forma en que la autora dirige a sus personajes hacen que parezcan mas humanos y menos de cartón piedra. Puede que sea el hecho que ninguno de los dos sean convencionales.
La mezcla entre inocencia y madurez intelectual de Justine, justamente equilibradas, hacen de ella un personaje femenino a la altura de Bradford, tan absolutamente retorcido y hundido en su miseria amoral, el contrapunto perfecto entre ambas cualidades, buenas y malas.
Absolutamente imperfectos, Bradford y Justin navegarán por un mar de incertidumbres y malas decisiones y nos arrastrarán en su barco que esta constantemente amenazando con hundirse. La cuestión es si su amor no confesado, sobrevivirá al naufragio.
Vale, él, duque de Bradford, es un libertino y está asqueado de sí mismo. Pero creo que ahí termina el cliché masculino. Es un personaje complicado que va dando tumbos, perdido, sin saber realmente lo que desea de la vida. Está vacío, hueco por dentro, ansía ser salvado pero no cree ser merecedor de ello. Totalmente imperfecto, mete la pata constantemente en su relación con su flamante nueva esposa, Justine.
Justine está perdidamente enamorada de él. O eso cree. Aunque la verdad es que está enamorada de la imagen que tiene del duque, de las pocas veces que se han visto.
Es una mujer extraña, diferente, debido a que se ha criado en áfrica, muy lejos de la rígida sociedad londinense. Es franca, honesta, arrojada; nada ni nadie puede echarle el freno. Ni siquiera Bradford.
La forma en que empieza la novela es absolutamente original y nos da una muestra bastante clara de lo que podremos encontrar más allá de las primeras páginas. Un vaivén de sentimientos encontrados, de decisiones precipitadas que pueden llevar al caos mas absoluto en una relación entre dos personas que nada tienen en común.
Personajes masculinos mentalmente torturados y físicamente marcados hay muchos, pero este Bradford me ha llegado al alma. ¿Por qué? No lo sé, sinceramente. Quizá la forma en que la autora dirige a sus personajes hacen que parezcan mas humanos y menos de cartón piedra. Puede que sea el hecho que ninguno de los dos sean convencionales.
La mezcla entre inocencia y madurez intelectual de Justine, justamente equilibradas, hacen de ella un personaje femenino a la altura de Bradford, tan absolutamente retorcido y hundido en su miseria amoral, el contrapunto perfecto entre ambas cualidades, buenas y malas.
Absolutamente imperfectos, Bradford y Justin navegarán por un mar de incertidumbres y malas decisiones y nos arrastrarán en su barco que esta constantemente amenazando con hundirse. La cuestión es si su amor no confesado, sobrevivirá al naufragio.
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