• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sugarbeat's Books

The Home of the Romance Novel

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Review Policy
  • Review List
  • My Books

Review – Once Upon a Scandal by Delilah Marvelle

By Barb Drozdowich

ISBN: 978-0-373-77545-3

Publisher: Harlequin

Release: Feb 1, 2011
Source: Netgalley

Lady Victoria Jane Emerson left behind her girlish notions of romance when Jonathan deserted her without a backward glance. Now the time has come when she must finally choose a husband, and she has vowed to marry someone who will never break her heart.

Jonathan Pierce Thatcher, Viscount Remington, has returned home, free of all his family’s debts. Only to discover that by some miracle he has been chosen to vie for the hand of his beloved Victoria. To convince his only love to once again believe in the magic of love and the promise of desire will be his greatest challenge yet. And one he cannot fail!

Once Upon a Scandal is the first book I have read by Ms. Marvelle.  It is the story about Jonathan, Viscount Remington and Lady Victoria Linford.  Victoria is only 17 years old and not yet presented to society.  The beginning of the story finds Jonathan about to leave for Venice in a few days, but determined to get a commitment from Victoria before he leaves.  Victoria is aware that she has many potential suitors when she makes her come out and doesn’t want to go against her father’s wishes.  Jonathan is determined and in a delightful passage tries to get Victoria to indirectly state her wishes.

‘Take the plate if you love me.’ … ‘I want assurance of your devotion.’ She giggled. ‘By offering me a plate?’  By offering your my life.  He gestured toward the china still in his hand.  ‘This plate is but a metaphor representing all that I am.  Polished.  Clean. Able to present, hold and endure whatever you place upon it, whilst allowing you to feast for both substance and pleasure, though surprisingly, it is also incredibly fragile.  If dropped, it will shatter and become nothing but a worthless mess.  I would say more, but we have an audience and this is about as forward as I can get without altogether grabbing you.’

She starred up at him for an abashed moment and dropped her voice a whole octave.  ‘So by taking the plate I would in fact be taking your heart?  Is that what you are informing me of, my lord?’  He drew in a ragged breath.  ‘Yes.  Exactly.’

The above an example of the wonderful, lyrical quality to Ms. Marvelle’s writing style.  This book is a joy to read, it seems to flow along seamlessly!

The characters are supposed to be modeled after a reverse Cinderella with Jonathan playing the role of the Cinderella character.  He even has a step-sister, but she isn’t evil and nasty, but is very attached to him. Jonathan’s character follows the model of the fairy tale, with him encountering all sorts of misfortunes, no matter how hard he tries.  Victoria has had a bit of a difficult life with the loss of her mother and beloved twin brother as well as her father’s illness, all under the watchful gaze of strict society.

This book is a true HEA in fairy tale fashion.  Well written and full of interesting characters.  Being set partially in Venice, it adds an interesting dimension to the traditional English historical romances.  The only thing that I would have changed is the length.  At 378 pages, it runs a bit long for my tastes.  Once Upon a Scandal is the second book in a series of three from the “Scandal” series.  The first book, Prelude to a Scandal, was released January 1 of this year.  Once Upon a Scandal is due out Feb 1 of this year, and the third book, The Perfect Scandal, is due out on March 1st of this year.  Pick up one or all of these books and enjoy!

Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet, 10.1", 1080p Full HD, 32 GB, latest model (2021 release), Black
4.6 out of 5 stars(102639)
$149.99 (as of February 1, 2023 10:13 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)

Share this:

  • Share
  • Pocket
  • Tumblr
  • Print
  • Email
  • Reddit

Related

About Barb Drozdowich

Social Media and Wordpress Consultant Barb Drozdowich has taught at University, trained technical personnel in the banking industry and, most recently, used her expertise to help dozens of authors develop the social media platform needed to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She owns Bakerview Consulting and is the only reviewer on this blog.

Previous Post: « Mailbox Monday and What Are you Reading?
Next Post: Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Colette@ A Buckeye Girl Reads

    February 1, 2011 at 3:34 am

    This sounds cute! I haven’t read a good historical romance without any Paranormal elements in it in ages!

    • Barb

      February 1, 2011 at 3:57 am

      HI Colette!
      Thanks for the lovely comment! This one was a cute one….more in this series!

Primary Sidebar

Follow Me

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinrss

Subscribe to Blog on Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 16,653 other subscribers

Available Now on Amazon

Available Now on Amazon

Do you need a primer?

Do you need a primer?

Need help with your website?

Need help with your website?

Are you listed?

Book BLogger list 250

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

2021 Reading Challenge

2021 Reading Challenge
Barb has
read 0 books toward
her goal of
100 books.
hide

0 of 100 (0%)
view books

Archives

Footer

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023