Jeanne Week: Runaway Scandal

Today's review is the first of the books in Jeanne's 'Elf and Ally' series available from Cerridwen Cotillion!

Title: Runaway Scandal (ebook) (print) (excerpt)
Series: Elf and Ally
Publisher/Year: Cerridwen Cotillion/2008

Synopsis: Lady Octavia Seldon has been kept close to home "for her own good" and "just because" for too many years. She answers a false advertisement for a governess position and escapes. When she is rescued by the notorious roué Dominic Thornton, Marquis of Brightwood, the Thornton family blessing takes hold. The two fall deeply in love and are wed. Scandalously, they forget to inform friends and relatives. Still more scandalous, Tavie, as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of a twenty-five-year-old scandal, compounding the problem.

With the ton outraged and Dominic's behavior seemingly beyond forgiveness, spinster sisters Elf and Ally Thornton rush to the aid of their favorite relative.

But suddenly more than scandal is involved when the young couple begins experiencing a series of what might be fatal accidents.

Review: The two books and short story are connected simply because of the (eccentric) characters of Elf (Elphinia) and Ally (Alvinia), spinster sisters with a penchant for wanting to meddle and rescue people.

Even more so then her OOP Zebra titles, Savery's books from Cerridwen Press: Cotillion (a branching of Jasmine Jade Enterprises) are more traditional Regency in line with Georgette Heyer then ever. Which yes, this does make me happy as I miss those sorts of novels with a burning passion. Back on topic.

In Runaway Scandal Tavie has her hands full. Truly she traded in one stifling existence for another once she met Dom's family. Only, these people don't mean well by her. If they're not being dismissive they are being patronizing and often both at once. Attitudes changed, during the course of the novel as Elf and Ally worked with Tavie to somehow smooth things over, but Tavie didn't let that make her complacent. Despite being kept so far from society, or maybe because of it, Tavie had a good head on her shoulders. Not missish or a weakling, she worked hard to ensure that she made her husband proud.

Dom was a suave and romantic guy. A former rake, he was of course a smooth player with the ladies, but his interactions with Tavie held a teasing warmth as he helped her blossom. His retelling of how he and Tavie met and married was certainly one of the more amusing 'This is how I met her...' stories. He didn't even know her name when he proposed! Not that he seemed bothered by that part, if you are to believe him.

As for the 'villain' of the piece, I felt rather bad for her. It wasn't precisely her fault that fate seemed aligned against her getting her fondest wish, she just made it worst. Dom though proves that he is a kind-hearted guy and figures out a solution that not only kept her from being disgraced, but also kept her from attempting new mad delusions.

The issue of the 'scandal' was rather curious and sometimes worked well within the framework of the story and sometimes complicated the story without need. Hopefully the resolution works out to everyone's benefit, though what's the old saying? Can't teach an old dog new tricks?

In the end this is a sweet, engaging and amusing read, with a dash of mystery to lighten things up and keep everyone on their toes.

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Title: House of Scandal (ebook) (print) (excerpt)
Series: Elf and Ally
Publisher/Year: Cerridwen Cotillion/2008

Synopsis: Scandal threatens Huntington Hall. All the evidence suggests Bertram, Viscount Darling, is a traitor. None of his friends believes it of course—particularly not Miss Cecilia Burnside, who has loved Bert for years. Ceci wonders if she’ll ever prove to Bertie that not all women are like the one who condemned him into thinking himself a great awkward lump no female would ever wed. While Bert is compelled to remain under his father’s roof, his friends Geoff and Dom and spinster sisters Elf and Ally Thornton rush to his side to find proof of his innocence. Between them, they will need to discover who the villain is—but more importantly for Bertie and Ceci’s happiness, they will have to make the viscount discover his true feelings for his old playmate.

Additionally there is a free short story called 'Christmas Scandal....Not!' available. Each can be read as a stand alone, though Elf and Ally are such a fun pair I suggest reading them all!

Jeanne Week: A Lady's Deception/Timeless Love

Today's book reviews are for two of Jeanne's Out-Of-Print titles, A Lady's Deception and A Timeless Love.

Title: A Timeless Love
Publisher/Year: Zebra/1996
Blurb: A Lord from the past...

Alexander Knightly, Viscount Hawkbeck, didn't know what the devil to make of the woman standing before him. With a commandeered ship in his possession, the adventurous nobleman had been enjoying a leisurely trip from Lisbon to England. He certainly didn't expect this incomparable beauty to materialize in his cabin--seemingly out of nowhere! Could she be a witch? The truth, alas, was even stranger.

A Lady from the future...

Beth Ralston had been sent back to 1813 to retrieve a work of art...not to lose her heart. But her powerful attraction to the charming aristocrat was something she hadn't anticipated. nor had Alexander. Utterly smitten, he insisted on taking Beth home to his family estate, where she would be faced with the demanding customs of the ton.

In spite of the fact that Beth could be swept back to the future at any moment, she and Alexander were determined to make a match. For nothing was impossible when two people shared a love strong to conquer time itself...

Review: I will say this, I remember the first time reading this and being ever so grateful that our heroine, Beth, didn't accidentally stumble on some portal to the past. It is refreshing to read that she meant to go back in time, to that time period. And I think that if the big reveal to the hero, Zander, didn't happen so quickly I would have enjoyed her slip-ups and mental chidings to 'keep with the period' (so to speak).

The start of the book happens very quickly, with several things happening in rapid succession before slowing down to a more sedate pace. I like that the friendship between Zander and Beth is built upon and, despite the fact he falls in too easily with her being from the future, their affection for each other is readily apparent.

I thought the most amusing parts were when Beth would describe the future, or what she considered 'history' and he considered the 'future', and Zander would just object in disbelief. His sister, as well is an odd duck, but it was also refreshing to find a character so assured and comfortable with herself despite not being 'perfect' by the ton's standards.

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Title: A Lady's Deception
Publisher/Year: Zebra/1995
Blurb: Tacye Adlington grew up in the shadow of her twin brother Terence. But ever since Terence was killed in battle, Tacye hasn't been her usual adventurous self. It's as if part of her died with Terence. But in order to find a suitable match for her beautiful younger sister Damaris, Tacye concocts a scheme to rival anything Terence could have ever come up with! Dressing as a man, Tacye plans to accompany her sister and their Aunt Fanny to Bath. Lucius Bernard Julian Mereworth, Marquess of Worth knew Terence Adlington well. He also heard about Tacye and wonders if the young man who calls himself Toby is indeed Tacye.

Determined to discover the truth without causing a scandal, Worth bides his time and makes friends with Toby. When Toby beats Worth in a race and seems completely at ease in men's clothes and talking the way men do, Worth begins to wonder if he's been wrong. Perhaps Toby is really a man, after all. Still, there's something about the young man that intrigues him and he's determined to find out what it is.

Acting as chaperon for her sister and aunt proves to be more of an adventure than Tacye bargained for. True, her sister has her share of suitors, but it's up to Tacye to determine who is desirable and who Damaris should avoid. Worth's advice and guidance is appreciated, but Tacye soon realizes that the feelings she has for Worth are totally unacceptable, especially since he thinks she is a boy! She never thought she'd be ready to trade in her trousers for skirts, but for the first time in her life, Tacye has met a man that makes her happy to be a woman!

Review: When I first read this, a decade or so ago, I read it under the mistaken belief that it would be similar to a manga I adore called Basara. All I really read of the synopsis was 'Young girl masquerades as her late twin brother and gets into trouble'--which is Basara's plot at the most simple. So yes I was mighty surprised and learned the valuable lesson to read the blurb before you read the book to avoid such mishaps again.

Regardless this trope--a lady disguising herself as a guy--tickles me pink every time. Whether made seriously or made as a lark, almost invariably the lady in question gets into some situations that are simply outlandish. I especially love it when the hero suspects the lady and purposely makes her squirm to see if she breaks. Lucius is rather like that, pushing buttons to get to the truth.

Tacye (for the record she and her sister win for exotic names in Regency Romances, at least for this month) is capable, intelligent, quick-witted and has the inner strength to make the charade work. I fully believe if Lucius hadn't become a factor nothing would have gone wrong. Admittedly the time that Tacye spends a female in Lucius' company is far shorter then what she spends with as a guy, but Lucius caught on to the guise fairly quick. So while Tacye was falling in love with him, and wondering how to explain that she isn't a guy, he was wondering how to get her not to be a guy long enough for things not to get really scandalous!

Savery is a big fan of Georgette Heyer, so its no surprise that this resembles Heyer's book The Masqueraders to some degree. Though of course there is only the one twin masquerading, but still. If you haven't read Heyer's book I suggest you do by the by, its a hilarious story.