Giveaway and Book Review of A Note of Scandal
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Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books. I am pleased to share my review of this book
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Blurb
:
What’s
the harm in a little white lie?
Especially
when it could carry so much good: a new life for a wounded soldier, catharsis
after long years of war—and an opportunity for lady composer Olivia Delancey to
finally hear her music played in public.
Newspaper
publisher Will Marsh refuses to compound the sins of his father’s generation by
taking money to print propaganda. But with the end of the wars in France and
America, he needs something new to drive Londoners to grab his paper first. Why
not publish the score of the “Tune That Took Waterloo,” by a wounded vet, no
less?
As
Olivia struggles to keep her secrets from this unsuitably alluring publisher,
and Will fights to find the truth without losing his hold on this bright-eyed
angel who has descended into his life, both discover another sort of truth.
Being
the talk of London can be bad—or very, very good.
Interesting elements:
The
newspaper-publishing setting is very rare in regencies but fascinating to the
author, a former newspaperwoman.
Music plays
a big role: Olivia plays pianoforte and Spanish-style guitar; there are three
very different concerts in the story.
Water
also is big: the hero falls in the sound and nearly drowns; the heroine
surprises the hero during a steamy bath.
Olivia
lies to help a wounded veteran and he is a strong secondary character. Services
and conditions for war veterans were poor at this time.
About the
Author:
Nicky Penttila writes
stories with adventure and love, and often with ideas and history as well. Her
favorite settings are faraway cities and countries, because then she *must*
travel there, you know, for research. She lives in Maryland with her
reading-mad husband and amazing rescue cat. She’s chattiest on Twitter,
@sunshinyday, and can also be found at nickypenttila.com and on Facebook.
Contacts:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/sunshinyday
Website: http://www.nickypenttila.com/
Facebook Page: Nicky Penttila, author: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicky-Penttila-Author/264840016929109
Pinterest (sometimes): http://pinterest.com/nickypenttila/
Present but rarely on: Google+, FriendFeed, new.myspace.com, shelfari,
Kindleboards
Member of: Washington Romance Writers (Romance Writers of America), The
Beau Monde (RWA), Historical Novel Society, National Association of Science
Writers
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Excerpt:
Olivia’s
face mirrored her surprise. She had lost track of him for only a moment, and
yet he had snuck all the way up on her. Had he caught her surreptitiously
watching him?
“The
music does not inspire you?” He gestured at Rosa, but his gaze remained on her.
“It
does,” she said, trying to pull on her familiar careless-girl mask. “I must ask
after her tailor.”
“That
sentiment isn’t worthy of you.” He whispered, but he could have spoken aloud,
as little attention as anyone was paying them in the midst of Rosa’s aggressive
arpeggios.
“Jealous?”
Her
mask faltered. “I did not mean it so.”
“Then
how?” He slipped to her other side, effectively cutting her off from Mr.
Mellon, who did not seem to notice. Too close. She took a step to the side,
turning to face her interlocutor.
“She is
part of our family now.” Her voice sounded breathy, unsure.
“I
heard you arranged this performance.” He stepped closer. “That shows a spirit
of generosity, despite your words.”
“She
deserves the opportunity. And it is right to salute Spain.”
“Our esteemed
ally.” He nodded, leaning in. “But perhaps it is difficult, to see a woman who
is allowed the freedom to perform, to create? Who can let her hair down in
mixed company?”
He
looked away from her a moment, gazing at Rosa. Olivia did not dare look away
from him. She let out the breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. Her
mind was addled; she was reacting too strongly to this man, to his words. To
his smell, deep and rich. Sandlewood, but hints of the flesh within.
The
corner of his mouth turned up. He teased her? The thought cast out her breath
again. Her ears had a buzzing in them, unrelated to the passionate rhythm of
the guitar.
He
could read her. He saw far too much. She reached out to touch him, no, to push
him away. He turned at her movement, stepping into the path of her hand.
A
thrill of power coursed through her arm. It filled her center with energy of an
unfamiliar sort. Unable to stop herself, she jumped. Then quickly looked around
to see if anyone saw.
She
could never make a scene. Not here in public. She took another step back,
pulling her hands tightly behind her, as if they were tied.
Step by
step, they sidled to the side of the great room. Toward the shadows.
“Are
you disappointed your fiancé found someone else?”
“It isn’t
that.” She was not quite sure she could call up a vision of Richard at the
moment. Her awareness was centered on the man in front of her.
They
passed the seven-foot-high sterling candelabra and into the shadows, far from
the crowd. Olivia would not have believed she could feel so alone in the midst
of a gala. Alone, but for one other.
Review
Funny, sad,
eye-opening, all these apply to this novel.
I have always heard about how bad hospitals were especially for soldiers
during the early American wars, but I never really thought about how veterans
from other wars faired. I realize that
this is not the central theme of the book, but this glimpse into history is
only one aspect of this novel and shows how well the author knows her subject.
I
laughed at how the heroine fought against the constraints on women, especially
women in the peerage, because I often think that would have been me. The story also reduced me to tears at times.
The
characters were well rounded and “real” in this story, so that I almost felt as
though I was watching a younger cousin or relative live through the story. The rich landscape of the fall of Napoleon,
the end of the war, and its impact on the characters was fascinating.
I give
this story 4.5 out of 5 clouds.
This
product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my
opinions or reviews.
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