Scandal's Daughter (Berkley Sensation) [Mass Market Paperback]

The aspirations of many an unpublished romance writer includes winning the coveted "Golden Heart" award sponsored by Romance Writers of America. In 2006, "Scandal's Daughter" won the Best Short Historical Romance category, and after reading this charming Regency-set novel, I believe the accolade was well-deserved.

Author Christine Wells paints the English setting beautifully and introduces us to Gemma and Sebastian, two likeable characters whose lifelong friendship forms a bond that gradually evolves through tenuous bouts of passion into a deep love capable of healing the wounds of the past.

Gemma is plucky without being obnoxious, and Sebastian is a complex character driven by a dark childhood filled with abuse and culminating in the loss of his beloved brother. The author's skill at portraying the deep emotional ties between the hero and heroine brings an emotional context to the story that makes it a very satisfying romance.

Ms. Wells employs a skillful balance, using humor to occasionally lighten the mood and deftly working in the Regency-era details that form the flagstone of this type of novel without making them an intrusion. She creates an interesting world populated with endearing characters and provides the requisite happy ending. As a reader of romance, I couldn't have asked for more .

Wow, a Regency that doesn't do the soiree/ball/sightseeing thing in London? It's a first for me, but I like it!

Our heroine, Gemma lives at her grandfathers' estate of Ware. There's no reference to how long she's been there, but one gathers it's been a very long time. So long, in fact, that she has assumed some of the duties of an estate steward. A situation her grandfather is not happy with.

Gemma's grandfather realizes he is dying, and asks his godson, Sebastion, Earl of Carleton to Ware to talk with him about Gemmas' future. Hugo asks Sebastion to marry Gemma!!! Sebastion, who has no plans to marry demurs, but offers to find someone for Gemma within the next three months, or he will marry her himself.

I admit, this novel, while very enjoyable, was definitely a first novel. Several areas left me wondering why put them in at all if you're going to rush to a conclusion?

Example:

1: The arrival of Charles Bellamy was initially created as a romantic interest of Gemmas' mother. I won't ruin the ending, but it just wasn't plausible.

2: Gemmas' mother was "scandalous" but there was no mention about what caused the scandal or why her mother left Gemma all those years ago? The ending provided another possibility for the appearance of scandal. I felt that was too rushed.

Gemma and Sebastion were fascinating. They both eventually realize their love for one another and the bedroom scene -while out of character for Gemma to be so direct - was good.

All in all, I look forward to more from this author.

The Earl of Carleton, Sebastian Laidley is a confirmed bachelor. So when his god father asks him as his dying wish to marry his granddaughter Gemma, he looks for an easy way out of the dilemma without breaking his godfather's heart. He has the perfect solution, he will host a house party and invite all kinds of eligible bachelors and one of them will surely offer for Gemma. If they don't, he promises to marry her. His godfather agrees to this plan.

Gemma has no wish to marry. She is totally devoted to the estate and wants nothing more than to be its caretaker to her dying day. She has repeatedly ignored her grandfather's warning that he is going to bequeath the estate to a male relative.

Her relationship to Sebastian is long standing. They have been childhood friends and she has always had a bit of a soft spot for him. At first she refuses to accompany him to his house, the estate needs her. Her mind changes when her mother arrives with a man half her age.

Gemma's mother has a wicked past. She has had affairs mostly abroad and now she has come home to England. Gemma has never had a beau because all the villagers know her mother as a trollop and therefore know one of good reputation will marry her.

Sebastian and Gemma have an incredibly slow moving romance. There is very little sexual tension between them. They are close friends and Sebastian does have her best interests at heart.

Even when Gemma does go to Sebastian's home for the house party nothing really heats up very fast. Gemma is so in love with her estate that it almost was tiresome. Sebastian was a more enjoyable character. His past was tarnished by a terrible father. When he opens up to Gemma about this it is the first sign of a real pulse of passion and the beginning of a torrid romance. From that point onward the book moves with gusto and Gemma becomes more than just a caretaker of the estate but a woman with passion. Unfortunately, this happens near the end of the book. Just when I was getting to like this couple the book ended.

Lastly, I thought this book would have more of a scandal. In fact, the book opens with a rather scandalous party in Sebastian's home. Emma's mother never acted anything but ladylike for the entire novel. Furthermore, the characters for the most part were appropriately behaved and scandal free. They were in fact, almost boring with the exception of Sebastian.