A Suggestion of Scandal by Catherine Kullmann

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.

Good luck!

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.

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.

www.mrsaverageevaluates.co.uk

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Nicky Moxey reviews Perception and Illusions by Catherine Kullman

 Today at The Review, Nicky Moxey reviews Catherine Kullman's Perception and Illusions. The author is giving away a paperback copy - to anywhere in the world - as a prize. To win your very own copy, simply leave a comment below or on our Facebook page. The winner will be drawn on 14th February 2018. Good luck!

 
Perception and Illlusions by Catherine Kullman –.

“England 1814: Brought up by her late grandparents after the death of her mother, Lallie Grey is unaware that she is their heiress. When her father realises that he will soon lose control of his daughter’s income, he conspires to marry her off to his crony, Frederick Malvin in exchange for a share of her capital. But Lallie has fallen in love with Hugo Tamrisk, heir to one of the oldest titles in England. When Hugo not only comes to her aid as she flees the arranged marriage, but later proposes to her, all Lallie’s dreams have come true.”

This book – Catherine’s second – was published in March 2017, and I was delighted to have been given a copy of this book.

“Perception and Illusions” is a lovely, gentle love story, using the classic girl-meets-boy, girl-loses-boy, girl-gets-boy-back theme – but it’s very cleverly done. I pretty much devoured this book, in 3 sittings, I think; and given that neither romantic novels, nor this period, are my usual fare, that gives you an impression of the quality of the writing! The central character, Lallie, is sympathetically drawn, and her character arc is believable and engaging. The secondary characters are well-rounded and appealing too; in particular Hugo’s thoughts and motivations make you like him very much.
I loved the language and the way the book is structured- both very much of the period. There’s a clever device for introducing the chapters, which was a particular favourite of mine; it both sets the tone of the chapter, gives you a hint of the content, and added together describes quite neatly the course and hazards involved in falling in love!

Here’s Chapter Sixteen’s:
“The Island of Perseverance, on the opposite side, is good if the travellers be on a right course; further lies the Island of Obstinacy.” Should be part of every divorce counsellor’s toolkit…
The author has the knack of allowing you inside first one character’s head, then another – so it was possible to follow along with every twist of the all-too-familiar comedy of errors that the lovers managed to achieve – and then to sigh with relief as they finally managed to start unpicking all the things unsaid and assumed, and get their relationship back on course! I was very impressed with the delicacy of the love scenes. Poor old Lallie has had the worst kind of birds-and-bees advice – and this is Hugo’s thoughts on the matter…
“Lallie vielded sweetly to him in bed, it was true, but, in the depths of his heart, he must admit that she did not respond as ardently as he would like and always at the end there was that little sigh, as if she was glad that he had finished. So what have you to complain about, he asked himself savagely. That your wife is not as fond as you would wish? You can hardly tell her you wish she were less inanimate…”

As well as the bedchamber, we are transported to some sumptuous Regency feasts and balls. The author’s descriptions of each, along with the complicated rules of politesse involved, are delightful, and add a great deal to the atmosphere of the book. It’s here that the quality of Ms Kullman’s research is clearest – but never heavy. She concludes the book with one of my favourite things – a Historical Note that clearly explains what is real and what is not, and what accommodations have been made to the story.

Very few, it turns out!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, for a number of reasons; I loved the period accuracy, the skill with which the author engages the reader, and the delicacy of the love story itself. I’d definitely recommend it - having finished this one, I’ve bought her first – this is an author with an effortlessly beautiful voice, and I want to read more.



About the author:  Catherine Kullman was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, she moved to Germany where she lived for over twenty-five years before returning to Ireland. She has worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector. She has a keen sense of history and of connection with the past which so often determines the present. Fascinated by people, she loves a good story, especially when characters come to life in a book.

She has always enjoyed writing, loves the fall of words, the shaping of an expressive phrase, the satisfaction when a sentence conveys my meaning exactly. She enjoys plotting and revels in the challenge of evoking a historic era for characters who behave authentically in their period while making their actions and decisions plausible and sympathetic to a modern reader. In addition, she is fanatical about language, especially using the right language as it would have been used during the period about which she is writing. But rewarding as all this craft is, she says there is nothing to match the moment when a book takes flight, when your characters suddenly determine the route of their journey.
Catherine's novels are set in the newly created United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the extended Regency period. The Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland of 1800, the Anglo-American war of 1812 and more than a decade of war that ended in the final defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 are all events that continue to shape our modern world. It was a time of revolution and inspiration, still a patriarchal world where women had few or no rights, but they lived and loved and died, making the best lives they could for themselves and their children. And they began to raise their voices, demanding equality and emancipation.
At the same time, the aristocracy-led society was under attack from those who demanded social and political reform, while the industrial revolution saw the beginning of the transfer of wealth and ultimately power to those who knew how to exploit the new technologies.
Links: Amazon US; Amazon UK; Facebook; website.


About the reviewer: Nicky Moxey lives in the middle of rural Suffolk, UK, and is owned by a slinky black cat who's far too clever for her own good. In her spare time, she is an amateur historian/archaeologist, and in non-work daylight hours is usually out on a field somewhere with a metal detector and/or a trowel. She has added quite a few things to the Heritage England Record and the Portable Antiquities Scheme; but what really fascinates her is the stories behind the artefacts. Her first historical novel is about the story of a local boy made good - Wimer the Chaplain was born in Dodnash in Suffolk of a poor Saxon family, but made it to be a confidant of Henry ll, holding down the job of High Sheriff for all Norfolk and Suffolk. Then he gave it all up and came home to found a Priory... finding the original site of that Priory (not where it's shown on the map) is still one of Nicky's proudest discoveries. This should be published in the second half of 2017, touch wood. She also has a self-published series of children’s’ short stories about Henry Baker, a boy who finds a magic pencil on the way to school - she has no idea where these come from, but enjoys writing them immensely! 
Nicky's website can be found at nickymoxey.com

Diana talks to ... Catherine Kullmann

 

Catherine Kullmann—Short Biography

 

 

 

 

I was born and educated in Dublin. Following a three-year courtship conducted mostly by letter, I moved to Germany where I lived for twenty-five years before returning to Ireland. I have worked in the Irish and New Zealand public services and in the private sector. My husband and I have been married for over forty years. We have three adult sons and two grandchildren.

I have a keen sense of history and of connection with the past which so often determines the present. I am fascinated by people. I love a good story, especially when characters come to life in a book.

I have always enjoyed writing, I love the fall of words, the shaping of an expressive phrase, the satisfaction when a sentence conveys my meaning exactly. I enjoy plotting and revel in the challenge of evoking a historic era for characters who behave authentically in their period while making their actions and decisions plausible and sympathetic to a modern reader. In addition, I am fanatical about language, especially using the right language as it would have been used during the period about which I am writing. But rewarding as all this craft is, there is nothing to match the moment when a book takes flight, when your characters suddenly determine the route of their journey.

 

*

 

Catherine, I am sure that you are tired of being asked the usual questions that would be interviewers ask authors, so hopefully this interview is an interview with a difference and I have come up with some unusual questions!

If your latest book The Murmur of Masks  was adapted into a TV show or a film, who would you like to play the lead roles?

Kate Beckinsale and Aidan Turner

(Note from Diana: I know a lot of laydees who will watch if Mr Turner is involved!!!)

 

 

 

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If, as a one off, (and you could guarantee publication!)  you could write anything you wanted, is there another genre you would love to work with and do you already have a budding plot line in mind?

Before the HNS Oxford Conference I would have said no, but after Christian Courtney’s and Anna Belfrage’s inspiring presentation I am tempted by the idea of timeslip. It is very early days yet, however.

(Note from Diana: Yes. It was totally amazing and inspiring.)

*

Do you have any rituals and routines when writing? Your favourite cup for example or ‘that’ piece of music...??

I need silence and regular cups of tea. I start by reading and editing what I wrote the previous day and follow on from there.

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What is the worse book you have ever read? The Da Vinci Code

What made it unreadable for you? Too much superfluous content, including endless, tedious descriptions of place.

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Other than writing full time, what would be your dream job?

There is no other. I have retired from my day job and hope to continue writing until I keel over at my desk.

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Coffee or tea? One large coffee in the afternoon, otherwise tea.

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Red or white? Whatever matches what I’m eating. Frequently it is a chilled Rosé as we love Mediterranean food. (Note from Diana: Me too! For me The Med is about the food!)

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If you had free choice over the font your book is printed in, what font/fonts would you choose?

Fairfield, which is an old-style serif typeface designed by Rudolph Ruzicka and released in 1940. I have one book set in it; it is very elegant and makes for a very pleasant read. I also love the uneven page edges you get in some American hardbacks and decorated hardback covers instead of a dust jacket.

(Note from Diana: My business and consequently full time job, is selling vintage printing equipment. That is a totally wonderful choice and I applaud your excellent taste.)

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Imagine that you could get hold of any original source document. What would it be?

A complete bound set of La Belle Assemblée for the period 1810 to 1820.

(Note from Diana: Wow! Yes! If you can, may I read it, please???)

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Historical fiction authors have to contend with real characters invading our stories. Are there any ‘real’ characters you have been tempted to prematurely kill off or ignore because you just don’t like them or they spoil the plot?

This is not an issue for me. While real people sometimes have walk-on parts, for example Lord Byron and Colonel Colborne in The Murmur of Masks, my characters and their stories are pure fiction.

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Are you prepared to go away from the known facts for the sake of the story and if so how do you get around this?

No. I enjoy the challenge of having my characters live in a real world shaped by known events and the constraints imposed by society in that time. I think that this sinking into the past is partly what attracts readers to historical fiction.

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Do you find that the lines between fact and fiction sometimes become blurred?

Of course, especially when you insert your character into a major event such as the Battle of Waterloo. Unless you are writing alternative history, it is important to remain as true to the original as possible.

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Have you ever totally hated or fallen in love with one of your characters?

No. I try to understand them and sometimes think I am too nice—I have had to go back and make my baddies more unpleasant.

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What do you enjoy reading for pleasure?

As I am immersed in the Regency world when writing or researching, I tend not to read novels set in that period although I love Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series. I like historical fiction set in almost all periods and also futuristic/paranormal/alternative history but not straight science fiction.

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What drink would you recommend drinking whilst reading your latest book?

A glass of dry Madeira.

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Last but not least... favourite historical author?

This was so difficult to answer. I have picked three favourites whom I hope will write more books; Gillian Bradshaw—I love her novels set in the ancient world, Ariana Franklin’s Mistress of the Art of Death series—I hope her daughter, who finished the last one, will continue with them, and Jill Paton Walsh’s splendid resumption of Dorothy L Sayer’s Lord Peter Wimsey books.

 

Thank you, Catherine. I really enjoyed this.

 

 

© Diana Milne July 2016 © Catherine Kullmann September 2016