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Didn’t Like It “I like most Suzanne Enoch books but not this one ... rehash thoughts, secrets dragged, skipped 150 pages” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I like most Suzanne Enoch books but not this one ... rehash thoughts, secrets dragged, skipped 150 pages”
Dawn wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Good read”
Joanne B wrote this review Tuesday, August 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I enjoyed it. It had romance, adventure, danger, mystery, and a nice happy ending.”
RS wrote this review Thursday, July 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Colonel Phineas Bromley is returning to his birthplace ten years after having left. On the battlefield he is considered one of the best soldiers in the land. In the bedroom, women swoon at his ability to grant them their every desires. It isn't until he finally returns home that he realizes just how close to ruin his family is and he wants to get to the bottom of it. Dressing as a highwayman in the dead of night, Phineas runs into Alyse, the girl next door. The girl that he has never forgotten.
gnat65 wrote this review Monday, December 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Alyse Donnelly has never forgotten the fun time she and Phin had when they were younger. Now that ten years have passed she is sure that he will no longer want anything to do with her but she finds that the boy that left has become a man and she can't keep her thoughts from focusing on him. With a home to oversee and a grumpy Aunt to take care of, Alyse has her hands full. She has yet to live down the scandal years ago in which she was a part and never wants to experience again. Her heart is in the right place - it is with Phineas. She can't help but want him. He makes her feel free and loved.
Suzanne Enoch has never before failed to capture my attention with her historical romances. I am used to dashing heroes and strong heroines who are feisty and full of life. Phineas and Alyse surprised me. More mundane at times than I liked, I found myself almost bored at their feelings for each other. They seemed more like friends than lovers throughout BEFORE THE SCANDAL and I quickly began to skim ahead in the hope of finding and reading a `good' part. One character got my dander up more than once and it was Alyse's aunt. I despised that old biddy with every breath in my body and more than once imagined her having a slow and miserable death. Her cousin was also another character I was not fond of. He was lazy and that instantly made me hate him. Phineas' was a lovable, albeit aimless in what he wanted to accomplish. Alyse loved him but even she was often unemotional and almost robotic in nature.
Flourishing storyline notwithstanding, BEFORE THE SCANDAL is a commendable read. Readers will be swept away by the enchanting setting and the almost fairy tale likeness of Alyse's life. The loyalty of Phin's brother, despite his handicap, is amazing to say the least. Add in the horrible aunt, her lazy son, and Suzanne Enoch has treated us to a historical worthy of any bookshelf. I look forward to the next installment with bated breath!
***Natalie S. for Wild on Books*** ”
“I liked this second book in Enoch's "The Notorious Gentlemen" series but didn't love it. BTS had more appeal for me than After the Kiss because I thought the main characters were more likable all the way through. Both Phin and Alyse were believable and their past connection made their quick fall into romance easy to accept.
Kristine G wrote this review Monday, November 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
And again the secondary characters added much to the story. It was fun to see Sullivan and Bram make an appearance. I still find Bram the most intriguing character and am wondering who he will end up with in the end. Could it be Elizabeth? And I liked William, Phin's brother the Viscount Quence, a great deal. You certainly don't see many disabled characters in Regency romances. He was portrayed without pity and as an intelligent and capable person. I wish he would get a story, too. What a fresh plot line that would be.
The ending was a bit dissatisfying in how the villains were dealt with. I wanted more justice, but I guess for people of the peerage, this might have been a common way to punish them. I will read the other books in the series when they are released.”
“Hero comes home from the military because his sister has written that his brother is ill. When he arrives, his brother is no more ill than usual--he's in a wheelchair, and we're given to understand from the very beginning that it's from an accident that the hero blames himself for--and others perhaps blame him too. But things aren't going too well on the estate, and--whether they want him to or not--the hero is going to figure out what the problem is. But the heroine complicates things. She's an old friend, and when he sees her again, he's instantly attracted. But things have changed since he was home last. Her parents are dead, and she got herself caught up in a scandal. She's living in the old governess's room and waiting hand and foot on the nasty-tempered mother of the guy who inherited Daddy's title. There's the mystery of what's happening to the estate. There's the attraction with the heroine. There's family angst to sort out between the hero and his brother. Lots of stuff going on, and a good read to book. Liked this one a lot, too.”
Gail Dayton wrote this review Saturday, October 18 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Suzanne Enoch did a great job with BEFORE THE SCANDAL, I love how the plot and characters flow together. Phin and Alyse are perfect for each other, they have both endured scandal and hardship, and are able to understand each other because of it. They are both very likable and I enjoyed watching them discover each other and themselves, and watching their relationship grow.
TrustMe2Forget wrote this review Wednesday, May 28 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The villains are easily identified, but the reasoning behind the trouble is a little harder to figure, and I like how Ms. Enoch worked the mystery.
I also like seeing Sullivan and Bram again, and catching a glimpse of Bram's fear of being to close to Phin's sister, Elizabeth, an innocent, respectable lady. I can't wait to read Bram's story, he seems to be treding a dangerous line in each of these stories, I'm curious to see how he is kept from crossing-over to be a complete loss.”
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