Scandal and the Duchess

Scandal and the Duchess by Jennifer Ashley

Rose, Dowager Duchess of Southdown, doesn't need one more scandal in her life.  Left ruined and penniless by her stepson's lies, the press already follows her around incessantly, she definitely doesn't need them seeing a destitute, drunken old soldier falling at her feet and accosting her body, unfortunately that is exactly what they do see.  So in the name of kindness she ushers the soldier into her carriage, caring not what the press makes of it and provides him shelter until he can get back on his feet.  The surprise comes the next morning when she discovers that the soldier is far from destitute, and even farther from old.

Captain Steven McBride has always had a wild and selfish streak.  Care-free by nature, tragedy leaves him adrift and turns a holiday leave in to a necessary and unwelcome errand to London in order to make right a long standing wrong.  In an attempt to drown his demons, Steven drinks himself blind and stumbles into the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.  When he wakes up the next morning and learns of her problems with the press, he makes her an offer she doesn't want to refuse:  pretend to be betrothed in order to provide the press with a story of their own making and reclaim her reputation and fortune in the process.  The only question that remains is whether when the dust settles, will the betrothal still be pretend?

This story is seriously a fun-sized fix for Mackenzie/McBride fans waiting for the next full-sized novel (which comes out next month).  That is not to say that fun-sized in a bad thing.  There is a reason for it being "fun"-sized.  It is a super quick read, full of Jennifer Ashley's rapier wit, and includes an appearance from her most popular character of all time - Ian Mackenzie.

The characters in this book are well put together, and we see a change in Steven from his previous appearances.  Darkness has crept into his demeanor, which is still devil-may-care, but with a decided edge.  Rose is kind without being saccharine-sweet.  For crying out loud, she takes in a drunken man who accosts her while she believes he is a homeless veteran.  If that isn't kindness, I don't know what is.  She, however, remains smart, cheeky and proud throughout the entire story, showing her backbone time and time again.  As this is a novella, there wasn't much time to develop secondary characters outside of existing ones, so the two that stand out are kept very specific to the scenes, without much background, but they still make a grand impression.

Overall, whether it be a novella or a full-length novel, Jennifer Ashley shines with her awesome dialogue and fabulous character presentation.  Whet your appetite now, she'll be back soon.

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5