Prelude to a Scandal (The Scandal, #1)

by Delilah Marvelle

Lady Justine is willing to trade her good name, her reputation and her place in London's gossip-hungry ton to secure her father's release from prison. But when the notorious Duke of Bradford counters her offer with a proposal of marriage, the stakes grow higher still. For while the smoldering lord is famous for his conquests, the man is oblivious to both her devotion and her charms. And Justine is soon afraid she has wagered all for naught.

• ISBN10: 0373775377
• ISBN13: 9780373775378
• Publish Date: 28 December 2010
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 8 February 2021
• Imprint: Hqn
• Edition: Original ed.
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amanda]

I am not even quite sure what I just read. The majority of the book was confusing to me, in that the characters seemed to swing back and forth. The hero, in his POV, would admit to himself that he loved the heroine, then in the next breath, tell her that love means nothing and that he can never love. The heroine was flighty, and constantly reversed her position on how she felt about the hero. I don’t even know how to explain it. She would tell him to do something, he’d do it, and then she’d find some other reason why it was wrong (he didn’t respect her?) and force them apart.

Then there was the whole sexual obsession thing with Radcliff. Even though I’m finished with the book, I’m still not sure what it was. Like, was he just a lusty man who couldn’t bear to be sexually frustrated, so he took his pleasures wherever he could find them, even by his own hand? Or did he actually have a problem? I don’t know. I DON’T KNOW. And yet, it was oddly central to the plot, this obsession of his, because it drove the two apart and I’m not really sure about any of it. Radcliff actually stops himself from having sex with Justine on their wedding night for no reason that made any sense. And then Justine makes him promise not to masturbate. Which is a thing. Because, you know, once you’re so in love with someone, you don’t want to think about having sex with others (that I can buy) or even finishing yourself off (that I don’t buy).

Then there was the whole thing with Radcliff’s brother and the brother’s mistress and I’m not even sure what the point of that was. Drive Justine and Radcliff together? Certain things happened between Radcliff’s brother and Justine that were there and then forgotten and I don’t know why it was never resolved.

This book raised a lot of questions that were never really answered. The only reason I didn’t stop reading it – and I probably should have – was that it was a library book and I was at the cabin and didn’t want to run out of readable books? Definitely better off as a DNF, since I don’t even really know what I just read.