A Touch of Scandal [Mass Market Paperback]

Katherine Fisk is a sweet, young woman who knows life as a simple servant working as a lady's maid to take care of a mother she wants to please and an ailing younger brother. She also knows how to keep a secret as her employer is her older brother William, a man leading a life shrouded in mystery and deception at the expense of his wife and sister. Always doing the right thing has been Kate's way of life but it is one that bears a great weight upon her shoulders.

When Kate meets Garrett James a simple friendship quickly turns to passion and unbridled love. But her affection for Garrett turns to nightmare when all his secrets intertwine with hers and she discovers that as a result of actions during war he is there to kill her brother who it turns wants to kill Garrett. Both men ask out loud of her "who do you trust"? It turns out Kate trusts Garrett more than her unstable brother and helps Garrett escape when William has him captured and imprisoned but the bloody result of this decision changes everyone's life.

Garrett reveals his secret that he is the Duke of Carlton after he takes Kate back to his home estate along with William's wife Rebecca the woman Kate had worked for who it turns out is also Garrett's sister. Thinking nothing else could stun her Kate discovers that Garrett had a wife that he divorced so that she could be free to marry another man she had fallen in love with when she thought Garrett had been killed in battle. But he was very much alive and living in Belgium with amnesia and unable to remember his own name. Kate feels her head may explode from all this knowledge but her heart knows one true fact - she loves Garrett and that in the end he is a man of honor and will not hurt her even though he makes no promise of forever.

Still there is one more surprise that shows up at Garrett's door which could be the final straw that will force her to leave him. Is Kate strong enough to stick it out and show him how much she loves him? Decisions are tough for Kate but she has never backed down from any fight and she thinks that Garrett is worth any battle.

Okay did you follow all that because trust me this book has so many stories, subplots and characters going on simultaneously you need to pay close attention. It will seem a little confusing for the first chapter or so but once you grasp the pieces and put them together you will be fascinated with how this plays out and Ms. Haymore is a master storyteller. Just when you think this is the end and peace will reign down guess what another twist presents itself to keep the action playing out.

Mary Gramlich is The Reading Reviewer located at [...]

Katherine Fisk has been peeking at a mysterious man for eight days now. Every day on her three mile walk home from work, she sees this delectable man bathing in a pond. It has become the highlight of her day, after working as a maid to her brother William and his wife Rebecca. All is not how it seems however. Her brother eloped with Rebecca four months ago, and is living way beyond his means. Rebecca has no idea Kate is her sister in-law. Kate goes along with the charade because she has a sickly brother who lives with their mother, and she is able to go home to him every night, giving him the care he needs as his mother pretty much ignores him.

While watching this man one evening, she is caught, and comes face to face with him. She learns his name is Garrett, but nothing else about him. He is very handsome and her attraction goes full force. Garrett reciprocates this attraction, even though she is in a dirty dress. What Kate doesn't know, is Garrett is actually the Duke of Calton. He is on a mission to find William and kill him. William blames Garrett for the death of his twin brother eight years ago and held him captive and basically tortured him for many years after his death. Garrett came back with no memories and a wife who presumed he was dead and remarried someone else.

When meeting Kate again and enjoying a picnic with her, William captures him, much to Kate's surprise. Garrett, realizing Kate is William's sister assumes she was in on the plot to catch him and assumes the worst of her. Kate is now torn between being loyal to her family or trusting this man she just met. As the truth is slowly revealed, Kate, Rebecca and Garrett realize life has much in store for them.

I have mixed feelings about A Touch of Scandal. The first half of the book has quite an adventurous feel and I enjoyed the secrets and prisoner held captive scenario. But it was hard for me to buy into Kate and Garret's love at first. When Kate and Garrett meet, they have such inherent trust in each other. Garrett even mentions he has to keep his guard up while seeking William and then foolishly makes out and seduces Kate in the open, while not even knowing who she is. They just became very familiar very quickly.

I understand an early attraction with someone - but just from glancing at him swimming in a pond, I don't get how she knew he could be her whole world.
After the adventure in the beginning, things slow down in the second half of the book although I enjoy the time spent on Garrett and Kate's relationship. Once Kate discovers who Garrett really is, she is not so eager to jump into his arms. He must convince her true love really exists, and here is where I started to fall for the characters.

I had a slight problem with Kate's relationship with her mother. Now, her mother is quite a despiteful person and only shows love for William and his deceased brother. I had no problems with Kate getting away from her, but throughout the beginning she preaches how important family is to her no matter what dirty deeds they have done in the past. While I understand she can't side with William after a certain point, she completely tosses her mother aside after a horrific event. Near the end of the book, she waltzes back into her life like nothing happened.

A Touch of Scandal has high and low points for me. Putting aside their immediate feelings, I recommend for the eventual journey Garrett and Kate travel.

Heroine: Kate, a Lady's maid/servant/sister-in-law (it's complicated...read on!)
Hero: Garrett, Duke of Calton
Time period: 19th century England

(Possible spoilers! Be warned!)

Ms. Haymore creates Kate to be a heroine who is much like a flower. She is fully of hidden energy and quirkiness at the beginning, but in the end, grows into a beautiful and charming bloom. Readers enter the story meeting Kate as a lady's maid to her sister-in-law, Rebecca. The story is complicated at first, full of secrets. Her sister-in-law does not realize she is related in any way to Kate and for the sake of Kate's family, Kate keeps it a secret.

Garrett is Kate's love interest and is also Kate's sister-in-law's brother...so that would make him her brother-in-law, correct? Well, in any case, Garrett is out for revenge against Kate's brother for running off with his sister, Rebecca.

When Garrett and Kate first meet, it is due to Kate spying on Garrett who is swimming in a lake nearby Rebecca's residence. Kate is enchanted and mesmerized by Garrett. In turn, when Garrett meets Kate, he feels the same, though is less obvious in his attraction. Kate convinces Garrett to take her and they enjoy a romantic tumble. Much later, to Garrett's chagrin, he finds out that she is sister of his enemy. (Oh Romeo...)

I actually enjoyed the fact that the sexual interlude between the two main characters starts off early in the book. It leaves plenty of room for plot and further romance. Also, it shows that the author doesn't need to use that device to lure readers further into the book. Instead, the author uses actual plot and character development.

I apologize. Back to the story!

Eventually Kate learns the truth about her brother's marriage, the truth of her brother's character (which is bad) and Garrett's involvement. She is torn between the possible love of her life and familial obligations.

She ends up choosing to side with Garrett, which I agree with considering her brother tricked Rebecca into marrying him for money, her mother plays favoritism and loves her brother more than anyone else, and the reason Kate is maid to her sister-in-law is due to more trickery and lies from her brother. Additionally, Kate's brother has no love for Kate at all (ever) and uses her to his advantage as much as he can, no matter what the risk to Kate's life/virtue.

The first half of this book ends with the death of Kate's brother and Kate joining Rebecca and Garrett in London. The rest of the book involves Kate adjusting to society and the ton and attempting to find a husband with the help of Rebecca and Garrett.

As a whole, I loved the characters, writing, story, and pacing of the book. Kate knows her place in the world yet is still a courageous, outspoken, and spunky character. In the past, I have read books with headstrong female heroines who foolishly speak out with no real reason, other than just being defiant and standing out. That really doesn't help depict females as a strong counterpart to males. It just makes females look stupid and want attention. Whereas Kate is actually intelligent and thinks things through before speaking. Kate is definitely not a dim-witted, loud obnoxious character and I give kudos to Ms. Haymore for creating such an interesting and refreshing character.

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