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A Lady Lesson in Scandal Meredith Duran 9781451606935 Books

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A Lady Lesson in Scandal Meredith Duran 9781451606935 Books

I have reviewed several of Ms Duran's books. While many readers have written wonderful, meaningful reviews of this particular book, I would like to add my comments to support future reader's decision making.

This is a story I started a year or more ago, and put down as I did not want to read about a women from the slums. How wrong my decision turned out to be.

Again Muran surprises by her ability to capture points of view. In this case we see something unusual in romance genre's - the point of view of someone raised in the slums seeing the life of a wealthy lord. The false misconceptions of Nell and the false presumptions of the wealthy. It is not something we read about often,

The second point of interest to me is Muran's ability to truly understand and express the depth of fear Cornelia "Nell" experiences as she tackles an extremely opposite future. Trust - Faith in oneself - Faith in another's love - All frightening steps. But she has the strength to overcome and yet she overcomes only because of the beauty of the heart of the man she loves.


Tags : A Lady's Lesson in Scandal [Meredith Duran] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <I>IN GRITTY, WORKING-CLASS LONDON, SHE DOES WHAT SHE MUST TO SURVIVE . . . </I><BR><BR>When Nell Whitby breaks into an earl’s house on a midnight quest for revenge,Meredith Duran,A Lady's Lesson in Scandal,Pocket Star,1451606931,Historical fiction.,Love stories.,American Historical Fiction,American Light Romantic Fiction,FICTION General,FICTION Romance General,FICTION Romance Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Romance,Historical fiction,Love stories,Romance,Romance - Historical - General,Romance: Historical

A Lady Lesson in Scandal Meredith Duran 9781451606935 Books Reviews

I don't know how this book is only rated at 4 stars. I'm an avid romance reader, including most of the best-selling Regency & Victorian period romance authors. Meredith Duran is definitely in the top 10% of these authors in terms of engaging stories that span the classes, well researched details, rich characters, and enjoyable stories. This wasn't as lush and emotionally-moving as "The Duke of Shadows," but it's an excellent story and the incredible descriptions of the living conditions of the factory-working classes really set this book apart for me. Moreover, Duran manages to create a storyline where it seems somewhat feasible that an heiress could be raised in poverty and then discovered 16 years later. This plotline could have easily felt forced, but the characters and circumstances felt believable and authentic.
I especially liked that the hero and heroine don't trust each other, but they respect and enjoy each other almost from the first. There's definitely chemistry between them and the sexual encounters happen naturally rather than having the heroine suddenly forget herself completely and going to bed with a perfect stranger, as so many authors write.
If you like Sarah MacLean's "The Rules of Scoundrels" series, then I think you'll enjoy this book.
I loved the heroine, Nell Whitby, in this book. Although she had been raised in poverty, had a step brother who was a brute and worked her hands nearly to the bone in a cigar factory, she was a plucky girl who had more courage in her pinky finger than her "betters."

When she tries to get some payback on the Earl of Rushden, she has no idea she will run smack dab into a naked Simon St. Maur who is the current Earl of Rushden - his predecessor now dead. But Simon recognizes the girl who calls herself Nell Whitby and it takes him one second to realize she's exactly what he needs to get out of the fix the old earl left him in. That would be inheriting the title and estates but no funds with which to operate. So, he needs an heiress. What in the world does Nell Whitby have that could help Simon? She's been hungry for years and all she can think about when she's in Simon's house is to pilfer whatever she can so she won't starve.

I loved the way Simon's and Nell's relationship built over time. I loved the way Simon handled Nell and the fact he saw her interesting qualities and eventually came to appreciate the person beneath the grime and ill fitting clothes. I loved it that Nell stood up for herself in the face of the adverse situation she found herself in, including trying to pass the gauntlet of the haute ton - yes, her birthright, but one she hadn't had the training to traverse. I loved it that when she thought Simon wasn't playing straight, she let him have it with both barrels. I loved the manner in which she dealt with a former lover of Simon's when that individual thought to make snide remarks to Nell.

Ms. Duran's amazing gift of portraying the sensitivities of her characters through the thoughts and dialogue between the players is rare indeed. One caveat Although there wasn't a lot of instances of detailed sexual activity, the primary instance between our H/h took a few pages. That is too much for me. Still, it involved more than just the physical which is always a huge plus.
I enjoyed this one. A wee bit melodramatic and flowery in places, and repetitive in others. But I thought it did a good job of depicting the differences in class, as well as the battle between mind and heart.

The heroine's struggle is learning to trust her heart, and trust in her dreams. To believe in the impossible. And ultimately to believe in love. Duran does a good job of depicting her struggle and journey.

While there is a villain and supporting characters - the majority of the book is focused on the relationship between Simon St. Maur, Earl of Rushden, and Nell (the missing Cornelia, the old Earl's daughter). It's mainly their thoughts, and dialogue. And through their relationship - the author explores issues of trust, faith, and belief in love.

I didn't find it as dark as some reviewers, but I also read George RR Martin's Dance of Dragon's prior to it along with various urban fantasy novels and Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth, which combined basically make this book look sort of fluffy and rather light in comparison. I suppose if you are used to fluffy romance novels, it probably seemed really dark to you? Like most things - it depends on what you are comparing it to. Also, I don't tend to categorize "romance" as necessarily equaling light, happy, and fluffy.

In some respects I preferred it to Judith Ivory's The Proposition - which felt a bit silly in places and played more like a comedy, so far less realistic. This feels more realistic, and grittier.

Overall - I recommend. I'm a hard grader. I only give 4 or 5 stars to books that knock my socks off.
I have reviewed several of Ms Duran's books. While many readers have written wonderful, meaningful reviews of this particular book, I would like to add my comments to support future reader's decision making.

This is a story I started a year or more ago, and put down as I did not want to read about a women from the slums. How wrong my decision turned out to be.

Again Muran surprises by her ability to capture points of view. In this case we see something unusual in romance genre's - the point of view of someone raised in the slums seeing the life of a wealthy lord. The false misconceptions of Nell and the false presumptions of the wealthy. It is not something we read about often,

The second point of interest to me is Muran's ability to truly understand and express the depth of fear Cornelia "Nell" experiences as she tackles an extremely opposite future. Trust - Faith in oneself - Faith in another's love - All frightening steps. But she has the strength to overcome and yet she overcomes only because of the beauty of the heart of the man she loves.