Amanda
Written on Jun 21, 2015
Even if, on the surface, I don't always like how the situation is playing out. It's like we're being toyed with, us poor readers, and it's something you resent and love, all at once.
What I liked about It Started With a Scandal is that it takes on a woman who had a child out of wedlock, and while she's sorry for the circumstances it created, she's not sorry that she has her son, and through her love and determination for him, we see Elsie's character come to life.
Philippe almost takes a backseat to Elsie in many ways -- he has his battles, but Elsie's take center stage (page?) -- because his problems are softer, more in the background. And in some ways, we only see his problems as Elsie uncovers them, bit by determined bit.
Although of the three Pennyroyal Green books I've read this week, all three featured a hero who thought he had to marry someone else. It gets a bit old, that, especially since it's not a particular favorite trope of mine. Even so, things are right in the end, and I particularly enjoyed Philippe's interactions with Elsie's son Jack and how he reacted to learning she had a son.
Lyon and Olivia's story is up after this one, and I am thoroughly looking forward to it, as it's built up throughout the entire series.