Highland Scandal (Scandalous)

After being falsely accused of having an affair with the Princess of Wales, Jack Haines, Earl of Lambourne, is forced to flee to his native Scotland. With charges of high treason hanging over his head and the Prince of Wales's men hot on his heels, Jack's bad luck is compounded when he's captured by Laird Carson Beal. What Jack doesn't expect is Beal's proposition. Either Jack enters into a handfasting - an ancient custom where a couple is effectively married for only a year and a day unless they decide to make it permanent - with Beal's niece, Lizzie, or the laird will hand Jack over to the prince's men. Jack's wariness turns into acceptance when he meets Lizzie. Too bad she's even less thrilled about the arrangement than he! Elizabeth Drummond Beal is furious. Her uncle's machinations are threatening to destroy her chance at a happy marriage. Yet she can't help but be drawn to the rakish earl whose fate is now tied to hers. As Jack and Lizzie reluctantly start to work together to discover the real reasons her uncle is so eager to have them handfasted, desire begins to bloom between the pair. But will two such different souls be able to find enough common ground for a chance at a love that could last far beyond a year and a day? Enjoy being swept away to the Scottish Highlands with Julia London's tale of an unlikely romance between a feisty Scottish lass and the charming rogue who is her match. Highland Scandal is a delightful romp filled with both spirit and heart that I could not put down. Lizzie and Jack have a somewhat antagonistic relationship to begin with. Though understandable, this slowed the story down a bit in the beginning. Happily, Ms. London picked up the pace and made me absolutely adore Jack and Lizzie. Each has been backed into a corner by the actions and accusations of others, and I was rooting for them to not only make the best of their situation, but to find love with one another in it. A dash of intrigue added by Lizzie's unscrupulous uncle kept me reading Highland Scandal late into the night, eager for the intrepid hero and heroine to figure out and overcome his schemes. Fans of Ms. London's will delight in once again seeing Jack's sister Fiona (who, in the Snowy Night with a Stranger anthology, found love whilst searching for Jack). Also, though Highland Scandal stands on its own, the Earl of Lindsey of The Book of Scandal does appear, as do Jack's other friends, including the Duke of Darlington who is the hero of Ms. London's next Scandal book, A Courtesan's Scandal. Not having read the first Scandal book, I can definitely say I will be ordering The Book of Scandal and am most eager to read the next Scandal tale. All in all I found Highland Scandal to be an engaging, satisfying read that brought warmth to my heart and put a smile on my face. Simply wonderful! Shayna Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

HIGHLAND SCANDAL was the first historical romance I've read in a while. The story of Jack, running from the Prince's wrath and his bounty hunters, sucked me right in from the beginning. Jack's only hope, to handfast the niece of the Laird who has captured him, puts both Jack and Lizzie, the Laird's unwilling niece, in an uncomfortable, compromising position. Author London throws in a bit of a mystery for the curious Jack to solve and enough passion between the two to keep the reader's attention. I enjoyed this bit of Highland adventure and loved the happily ever after ending. For me, this book delivers an entertaining read.

In 1807 the Prince of Wales demands the Lords Commissioners complete their Delicate Investigation into the behavior of his wife. Being the royal heir, George expects one outcome. However, the Lords Commissioners are finding little to uphold the accusations George is making against his spouse Princess Caroline of her sleeping around. The latest lord the Prince accuses of adultery with the Princess of Wales is Scottish Earl Jankin "Jack" Haines. Jack assumes George will quickly drop the nonsensical charge so he goes home to wait. Instead the Prince, claiming Jack fled to Scotland to avoid conviction of the seditious act of sleeping with the Princess, hires bounty hunters to find the earl. They capture Jack and take him to their clan laird, Carson Beal who forces his prisoner to handfast with his troublemaking niece, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Drummond Beal in order to avoid her possible marriage with Gavin Gordon. Although Carson denies duplicity, Jack thinks his "host" has a nefarious reason to keep his niece from marrying Gordon and he plans to learn what that is even as he begins to fall in love with the shrew taming him. Based on a real investigation, the second scandal Regency romance (see BOOK OF SCANDAL) is a delightful historical Scottish romance. Jack expects the accusations will soon pass but underestimates the Prince's determination. However, he adapts nicely as he goes from the fire to the frying pan and back into the fire. Lizzie acts inane at first blaming Jack for her situation and behaving dangerously foolish to avoid marrying her uncle's prisoner. She quickly comes around (thank goodness) as she falls in love. HIGHLAND SCANDAL is a wonderful tale as a real event leads to love between two Highlanders. Harriet Klausner

It is the year 1807. The situation in London is rather tense with the Delicate Investigation under way. That is what people are calling the investigation into the princess's behavior. The Lords Commissioners are examining the accusations against the princess. Most of them are untrue. A wrathful Prince of Wales (George) is hauling in anyone believed to have shared the princess's bed. When Jankin "Jack" MacLeary Haines, Earl of Lambourne, is accused of adultery with the Princess of Wales, he flees to his native Scotland. Jack believes that George would soon come to his senses and realize that Jack would never have committed the treasonous offense. Once the ridiculous charges were dropped, Jack could return to his London home. Instead, George hires Scottish bounty hunters to search Scotland for the earl. The men that finally capture Jack take him to their laird, Carson Beal. Carson blackmails Jack into handfasting his niece, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Drummond Beal. A handfast is an old Highland custom - a marriage lasting a year and a day, unless both partners agree to make it a lifelong vow. Lizzie may be beautiful, but she is a hellion. Lizzie is forced to handfast to the earl by her uncle, Carson. Carson is using the handfast to ruin her chances of a respectable marriage with Gavin Gordon of Glen Cochill. Carson claims it is due to an old family feud, but Jack believes there is another reason the laird wants Lizzie and her sister to keep living in poverty at Thorntree. As Jack ponders it all, he also begins to thaw Lizzie's attitude. ***** I must say that Lizzie's unintelligent attitude at the beginning was a bit too much for me. She kept ignoring Jack's sound advice and making matters worse. (As my mother would say, "She was cutting off her nose, despite her face.") That is the only time Lizzie grated on my nerves and I did not think it was irritating enough to subtract even half a star. This tale began with Jack running from bounty hunters. Needless to say, that caught my attention immediately. This story kept me glued as the author toyed with my imagination like a child with building blocks. I would be enthralled by a conversation as the main characters brainstorm what to do, when suddenly I would find myself laughing out loud as something ridiculous happens or is said. Ingenious! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I've always enjoyed Julia London's historicals, and this was no exception. From the beginning, she draws you into Jack and Lizzie's story, and the fact that the aren't instantly smitten to each other (Lizzie is, in fact, as good as engaged to another man) only adds to the story and makes their growing relationship more believable. There are several mysteries involved, and the banter between Lizzie and Jack is very enjoyable, as is London's wise decision not to overly dwell on why Jack might be averse to marriage (sometimes authors take those dramas to unreasonable levels, in my opinion). I look forward to reading Darlington's story next! Oh - and this is separate from the story - but it's so nice to see her newer novels in a larger font size - her older ones were harder to get through, the type was so small.