Whisper of Scandal/A

When I moved abroad for a year and space was tight, I brought 2 romances: Mary Balogh's "Indiscreet" and Janis Laden's "A Whisper of Scandal". I've read both of these books too many times to keep count but I never tire of reading them again and again. There are plenty of great reviews on all of Balogh's books but Janis Laden has fallen by the way side and that is truly a shame because she is absolutely one of the all time best authors of regency romances, period. Laden has a way with words and I love the sophistication in which she writes dialogues between her characters. For those of us who love regencies, there is a beauty in what the period represents to each of us and a strong part of that is the importance of how characters express themselves and the words they use. In this respect, Laden is unmatched. Anyway, the characters in "A Whisper of Scandal" are fabulous. I'll start with Amanda. The daughter of an abusive father of questionable station, she married young to a titled nobleman who was much older than her. They had a son together, heir to the estate and though after her husband Arthur's death she could admit it wasn't a marriage of passion, she would always love him for his kindness and giving her so much. Enter Charles, strong willed with a temper, isn't exactly handsome but exudes strength and masculinity in a rugged sort of way. He's also an Earl and nephew to Arthur. After the death of Arthur, rumors are spreading through London that the widow - who must be some schemer to have landed herself a rich titled older man for a husband and whose mother was after all an actress - is up to her tricks seducing men in her village. Charles and his mother, Arthur's sister, are absolutely outraged and Charles decides to go to the estate to confront Amanda and perhaps take control of both the estate and guardianship of her young son Victor of whom Amanda and Charles had joint custody. Well, sparks fly to say the least and it's a mystery as to who is spreading those vicious rumors and why. When Charles realizes he's becoming attracted to Amanda, he becomes more curious about her and her past. Amanda is proud, defensive of Charles' motives and also stubborn when it comes to relinquishing any of the freedom and guardianship she has had over running the estate and raising her son. They are, of course, attracted to eachother, while in the midst of heated arguments or not, but fighting their feelings, not knowing what's the other's agenda. The beauty in this novel is in the strengths of both characters, first with Amanda. She must be strong in protecting her past (defending her love of Arthur and also the ugly secrets from her childhood) and yet by allowing Charles into her life, begrudgingly at first, she finds that there is strength in sharing your burdens. And Charles, wow Charles, shows an amazing sense of growth in how he changes his opinion of Amanda, not only that she is not the woman rumors say she is of course, but that she has a will