Scandal

Greed for a greater fortune kept Gideon Harwood toiling beneath the hot Indian sun long after he should have set sail for England and been reunited with his siblings. Wealth is naught but an empty husk without a family to share it with, after all -- and such was Gideon's ultimate goal: to provide financial security for Bethany, Bliss and his brother Caleb. He has returned to England too late, however, to protect his family from poverty's greedy grasp, and the desperate decisions one must make when confronted by so hopeless a situation.His sisters' innocence has been lost, and his brother has disappeared into the ether, leaving scant clues behind him. Gideon's guilt over this situation is nearly unbearable, and will drive him to make a deal with the devil, his honor be damned! Revisiting the village of his birth (in search of clues regarding Caleb's disappearance) is the catalyst for the black events to follow. Gideon unwittingly discovers an ugly secret about Lord Stanwell, you see, an influential peer of the realm who has weighty ties to the ton.In exchange for Gideon's silence, his lordship is willing to provide the wealthy commoner with entrée into London society, and thus, respectability -- something Gideon dearly craves for his beautiful sister, Bethany, who has suffered so much. To perpetuate this lie, however, Gideon must marry Lord Stanwell's daughter, Lady Julia, a milk and water miss who sets his teeth on edge. His tolerance for her missish airs is almost negligible, but there is a banked spark of mischief in Julia's fine brandy eyes, and a kindness to her gaze that bodes well for the treatment of his younger siblings.Heather Cullman's descriptive prose weaves a tangled web in this spirited historical romance, where lies, half-truths and misconceptions muddy an already muddled courtship, and put the hero and heroine on the defensive. Attraction is a mighty force, however: Scandal is a love story that gradually evolves out of a series of awkward, messy and unfortunate misunderstandings that are only worsened by a lack of communication and the interference of well-meaning -- and yes, selfishly absorbed -- third parties. Although they have much in common, Gideon and Julia are initially blind to these shared traits, preferring to nurse their individual feelings of frustration and helplessness. Love for one's family can motivate one to act in a wholly uncharacteristic way, and in essence, sacrifice one's own happiness and future well being. Unfortunately, snap judgments are all too easily formed from such touchy and regrettably irritable behavior. So instead of seeing the parallels in their situations for what they truly are, they see an enemy to vanquish, a marriage to endure, a martyrdom to embrace...And standing between Gideon, Julia and that all important moment of epiphany is a mountain of pride, and the rippling undercurrents of a scandalous secret. Yes, their floundering relationship is shaky and tempestuous at times, but once reconci

SCANDAL is the first book by Heather Cullman I have read and I was delighted to receive this advanced reading copy with a beautiful pink bow encasing the papers. After reading this story, I truly feel as if I was given a gift. Rich in history and culture of late 18th Century England, I found myself immersed and completely enraptured by this story. This regency romance, supported by brilliant characterizations and characters motivated by the love of their siblings, is both believable and captivating. Gideon Harwood, a commoner who has recently returned from India as a self-made wealthy man is in search of his lost brother. Discovering a secret about London's most influential aristocrats, Lord Stanwell, he finds himself bribed for his silence. Desiring proper acceptance and social standing for his siblings, Gideon finds himself engaged to Lord Stanwell's very proper daughter, Lady Julia. Lady Julia, having no say in the matter, is told she must make it appear a love match for Gideon Harwood to truly be accepted into society. Proper society and rigid social etiquette gives way to a lusty and passionate love affair. Prepare yourself to fall in love with this wonderful story by Ms. Cullman. I look forward to reading more of her books, and feel Ms. Cullman is a true star of the historical romance genre, capturing all elements necessary to make it a wonderful experience for the reader.

In 1798, after twelve years making a fortune in India, commoner Gideon Harwood returns home to help his family. Though he has his two sisters at hand, Gideon's brother Caleb is missing. Lady Stanwell informs Gideon she has pertinent information involving Caleb, but when he visits her she is dead from an accidental fall. Gideon visits the grieving Lord Stanwell, but he offers nothing, as he has no idea what his deceased wife knew.In London, Gideon runs into Lord Stanwell, catching him in a scandalous situation. To insure he gains Gideon's silence, Stanwell bribes him with the hand of his daughter in marriage and entrance amidst the Ton for his sisters. Gideon agrees to marry Lady Julia, currently in her third season and the recipient of twelve proposals all rejected as she plans to wed for love, on the condition that she pretends to love him in public. Given no choice, Julia and Gideon marry, but that sham turns into real thing if the commoner and the lady can learn to trust in the love of their partner.SCANDAL is an enjoyable Regency romance with a twist not often seen in the genre. The story line contains delightful subplots to include the snail game, Gideon's investigation for his missing sibling, Stanwell's secret, and other pleasant foibles. Gideon's dilemma is intriguing. He fears telling Julia the secret about her father because he thinks that could end their relationship; yet he panics over not revealing it to her for fear if she learns the truth elsewhere that would end their relationship. Heather Cullman entertains the troops with this wonderful historical.Harriet Klausner

***** This book will appeal both to regency and to historical fans, as it contains elements of both. While Julia at first seems to be a bit of proud fluff, she develops into a woman who can recognize the worth of a person, no matter what their social standing. Gideon is a bit more difficult to love, with his almost hypocrital desire for the society he shuns, yet he is very sexy. His sisters though, are fascinating and hopefully will merit their own books in the future. ***** Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.