A Scandalous Situation

Patricia Frances Rowell delivers another winner in this story of the healing power of love. Iantha is a wounded soul whose tragic past (gang rape) is dealt with realistically and compassionately. I enjoyed watching her blossom as her relationship with Rob (Baron Duncan) developed. Ms. Rowell has a fresh, intelligent writing voice and it is no wonder why she had won so many prestigious awards for writing historical romantic suspense. Dont miss this one!!

Patricia Frances Rowell handles a sensitive subject in an intelligent manner. The emotions she portrays are right on target. If you want a read that is something more than mere fluff, one that goes to the heart of a situation many women have faced and comes out right in the end, then you'll appreciate this book.

Setting - Cumberland, England 1807 Iantha Kethley is a young woman who has been the victim of a violent gang rape just before her season. The rapists are "gentlemen" and therefore apprehending them initially proves difficult since social class limits questioning suspects unless there is evidence to justify such questioning. All Iantha knows of their identity is that they wore red scarlet masks, and smelled of a distinctive alcohol and tobacco. Because of the stigma associated with this sort of crime placed on a woman in this day and age, she retreats within herself and accepts she will not marry. One afternoon while in the hills painting she encounters Rob Armstrong otherwise known as Baron Duncan. He assists her during the snowstorm they find themselves in and takes her back to his castle. Once Rob is able to return Iantha to her family, he offers for her due to the improper nature of her staying the night at his home unattended. He sets it upon himself to help Iantha and also help himself, since he still grieves for the family he lost several years ago. The gang rape itself is not described in any graphic detail. As readers we only get a glimpse into what occurred. The actual motivation for the crime and why these men target Iantha is unclear throughout the book. There is talk of drugs, and a wild crowd but it would have been interesting to learn more about these seedy characters to add suspense and drama to this story. The story itself is more about Iantha's healing and her realization of herself as a strong woman. Ms. Patricia Frances Rowell treats the subject of rape quite compassionately and guides us through Iantha's journey to healing and finding her true passionate nature and emotions. With the help of Rob, Iantha finds love, acceptance and eventually strength in dealing with her past. There are some misuses of language that do not appear to be true to the time period and some rough patches to Ms. Rowell's writing style, in particular in the beginning of the story but in the end Ms. Rowell delivers a very satisfying story. Tara Green

Iantha Kethley's life had been ruined beyond repair. Raped at the tender age of 18, Iantha now fears the touch of anyone who is not a child. Her dreams for children of her own have been ripped from her, for even if she could find a man to marry her, she could not bear the thought of him touching her. Then, one snowy night, her carriage is caught in a snowdrift, and a most intriguing man stops to help her. He's everything she fears - very masculine and very tall with broad shoulders - and as she holds a gun on him to keep him from coming any closer, she has no idea that he may be everything she needs to move on with her life. Robert Armstrong, Lord Duncan, had no idea why the woman insisted on holding a gun at him when his only intention was to help her. And help her he does - not only does he rescue her horse and Iantha herself, but he offers her shelter from the storm brewing outside in his home. While he gets to know her, the gentle widower is thoroughly intrigued by Iantha, and makes a plan to offer for her once he returns her to her home. Iantha's dreams appear to be coming true, until the madmen who raped her six years ago begin to step up the threatening messages sent to her. They swear they'll kill her, only after they rape her once more. Can Rob protect the woman he loves, both from herself and from the men who are bent on destroying them both? To be honest, I cried through most of this book because I related with Iantha so much. Having endured an ordeal similar to Iantha's (without a Rob at my side, unfortunately), I could relate to her every emotion and reaction. The author did an absolutely wonderful job of exploring Iantha's reactions to Rob, and really knew how difficult it is to pick up the pieces and try to move on with your life after this has happened to you. Rob was wonderful - considerate, compassionate, and understanding of Iantha's limitations and fears. He never tried to push her into something she didn't want to do, but instead usually stayed back and let Iantha take the lead in their relationship. As for Iantha, she was a fragile but tenacious beauty, and I admired her courage and strength. The love scenes between the two were aching tender as well as wildly passionate. The only thing that detracted from the story was the villains who still wanted to make Iantha's life miserable and kept threatening her at every turn. Sometimes that plot took away from the tender love story developing between Rob and Iantha. Had the author wrote a book dealing just with Rob and Iantha's relationship, with no evil men shadowing them, I think I would have rated the book five stars. Still, this book is wonderful, and shows the true healing power of love. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys deep, heartfelt stories that go way beyond the mere fluff often found on the romance market.

In 1807, Widower Lord Rob Armstrong heads home to his isolated estate Eyrie when he sees a carriage containing a young woman trapped in snow. He offers to help, but she points a gun at him. Still, he rescues her and her lame horse just prior to an avalanche. Rob takes wary Iantha Kethley to his home just before a blizzard hits. He explains that there are no women present at this time as he just returned from India. After a few days in his abode without a chaperone, Rob takes Iantha home where her worried family greets her in love. Rob asks her father for her hand in marriage, but her dad explains that six years ago Iantha was raped by masked aristocrats. Perhaps because his own child died, Rob still insists they wed and vows to Iantha that he will go slowly with her until she is comfortable with his touch. As Rob and Iantha fall in love and his kindness touch her soul, she begins to feel at ease, but her worst nightmare is back. Regency romance readers will appreciate this strong tale of a wonderful nurturing champion who helps his beloved recover from the horrors of rape. The story line is at its best when Rob gently heals Iantha's soul with his tenderness. Iantha makes the story line succeed as the audience can understand her fears of anyone but a child's touch and her need to control her situation including carrying a weapon. Though the villain's return adds suspense and a chance at his comeuppance, this confrontation takes away from the beauty of a fabulous historical that accentuates the healing power of love. Harriet Klausner