Today Claire Lyons reviews A Suggestion of Scandal by Catherine Kullman. The author has very kindly offered a paperback copy as a giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning this wonderful prize, simply leave a comment below or on our Facebook page.
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If only he could find a lady who was tall enough to meet his eyes, intelligent enough not to bore him and who had that certain something that meant he could imagine spending the rest of his life with her.
As Sir Julian Loring returns to his father’s home, he never dreams that that lady could be Rosa Fancourt, his half-sister Chloe’s governess. Rosa is no longer the gawky girl fresh from a Bath academy whom he first met ten years ago. Today, she intrigues him. But just as they begin to draw closer, she disappears—in very dubious circumstances. Julian cannot bring himself to believe the worst of Rosa, but if she is blameless the truth could be even more shocking, with far-reaching repercussions for his own family, especially Chloe.
Later, driven by her concern for Chloe, Rosa accepts an invitation to spend some weeks at Castle Swanmere, home of Julian’s maternal grandfather. The widowed Meg Overton has also been invited and she is determined not to let the extremely eligible Julian slip through her fingers again.
When a ghost from Rosa’s past returns to haunt her, and Meg discredits Rosa publicly, Julian must decide where his loyalties lie.
A respectable governess finds herself in the centre of an
outrageous scandal – what is a woman to do when her involvement could lead to
the ruin of herself and those she cares for? This Regency fiction is a
beautifully written romance with so much more going on than you expect…
I truly enjoyed this wonderfully crafted and deliciously
devious book – so many characters all with a past and with a plan for their
futures. The Regency period is explored with great care, through the confines
of the story, but still giving lots of food for thought to the reader about the
situation of women both in terms of financial security and social position. I
loved the large number of strong and interesting female characters, spanning
different generations and social standing.
Descriptions of the clothing, buildings, interiors and
furniture as well as travel and even hair styles give a very evocative and
visual experience for the reader. The book is largely set in two wealthy family
estates, but there are many glimpses of other aspects of the period that you
really can imagine and therefore feel the atmosphere.
There is a gentle humour and the subtle romance emerging all
the way through the trials and tribulations of the scandal itself, with a few
unexpected twists and turns to keep your attention. I liked being challenged
during the unfolding story – not all the characters are as simple as it first
appears and the ease with which I dubbed their behaviour as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ was
turned on its head as more of their personal story is revealed. Some characters
are very complex and as their personal situations and choices are revealed the
reader gains a wider understanding of how the rigidity of society in the
Regency period was in fact a surface image, and the way many people actually
lived their lives was in stark contrast to these public expectations.
There are a lot of side characters in the book, and they
give the story and the period setting a deeper richness, allowing us to see how
people entertained themselves, the living conditions, social expectations and
politics. The writing has a certain formality which works well with the subject
matter and feels very like an authentic work from the period – until the sex
scene of course! I can imagine that there more stories to come from this motley
crew… I have questions about several of the women and how they will fare in the
Regency period and would like to find out what happens to them – will they find
financial security or even real love?
A Suggestion of Scandal would suit people who enjoy
historical fiction and romance, also those with an interest in the changing
role of women. It is a well-researched and intelligent book, inspired by a real
event. When we read it in the Virtual
Book Club, two members had never read a Regency Romance before and both are now
happy converts!
About the Author:
Catherine Kullmann was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, she moved to Germany where she lived for twenty-six years before returning to Ireland. She and her husband of over forty years have three adult sons and two grandchildren. Catherine has worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector.
Catherine Kullmann was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, she moved to Germany where she lived for twenty-six years before returning to Ireland. She and her husband of over forty years have three adult sons and two grandchildren. Catherine has worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector.
After taking early retirement
Catherine was finally able to fulfil her life-long ambition to write fiction. Her
debut novel, The Murmur of Masks,
published in 2016, is a warm and engaging story of a young woman’s struggle to
survive and find love in an era of violence and uncertainty. It takes us from
the ballrooms of the Regency to the battlefield of Waterloo.
In
Perception & Illusion, published in March 2017, Lallie Grey, cast out
by her father for refusing the suitor of his choice, accepts Hugo Tamrisk’s
proposal, confident that he loves her as she loves him. But Hugo’s past throws
long shadows as does his recent liaison with Sabina Albright. All too soon,
Lallie must question Hugo’s reasons for marriage and wonder what he really
wants of his bride.
In her new
book, A Suggestion of Scandal,
governess Rosa Fancourt finds her life and future suddenly at risk when she
surprises two lovers in flagrante delicto,.
Even if she escapes captivity, the mere suggestion of scandal is enough to ruin
a lady in her situation. In Sir Julian Loring she finds an unexpected champion
but will he stand by her to the end?
You can find out more about Catherine
at her website www.catherinekullmann.com/
where, in her Scrap Album, she blogs
about historical facts and trivia relating to the Regency or on her Facebook
page fb.me/catherinekullmannauthor
Catherine’s books are available worldwide from Amazon
as e-books and paperback. Amazon links include:
Amazon.com: https://goo.gl/J3hRIf
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2n9Ljxi
About the Reviewer:
Claire has run Mrs Average Evaluates for five years now, and still writes a regular book review in a local magazine. Her passion is to share great writing and encourage wide reading for learning, pleasure and escapism. She also runs her own business, has four young children and a dog to keep her busy. You are most welcome to join her friendly FB Group, and she’s always on the lookout for Guest Posts on the website.
Thank you, Claire. I am so pleased you enjoyed A Suggestion of Scandal. And, yes, there could well be a sequel.
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