Laurette Howard had lost her innocence years ago when she was tricked into a cruel and loveless marriage after the boy she loved was reported to have died in prison during the American Civil War. But Laurette's one true love, now living under the alias Sutton Vane, was not dead. And he was back, no longer a tender-hearted boy but a man bent on vengeance. A man intent on ruining those who had so heartlessly betrayed him, including the outwardly prim but wildly passionate Miss Howard, the girl he had never been able to forgive -- or forget.
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Amazon.com:
2.9 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
exciting post Reconstruction Era romance
28 Mar 2002
By Harriet Klausner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In Mobile, teenagers Ladd Dasheroon and Laurette Howard fall in love, which leads to deep resentment and jealousy from their friend Jimmy Tigart. Though Ladd and Laurette make love, they hold off their plans to marry until he returns from fighting for the Confederacy. The Northern soldiers capture Ladd and incarcerate him at Devil's Castle. Northern soldier Jimmy learns about Ladd's imprisonment and sends word to Laurette that her beau died. He travels to Alabama and in 1865 Jimmy marries the grieving Laurette.
Fifteen years later Sutton Vane arrives in Mobile. He courts Laurette with a passion rarely seen anywhere. Reluctantly and scandalously Laurette falls in love with Sutton who reminds her so much of her beloved Ladd. That is because Sutton is Ladd seeking vengeance on the woman who betrayed him during the Civil War. The only problem for Ladd is that he still loves his Laurette even if he does not trust her with his heart.
THE SCANDALOUS MISS HOWARD is an exciting post Reconstruction Era romance that shows that as late as 1880 the impact of the Civil War and its aftermath on people. The strong story line is filled with depth, yet trivializes the war through how easily Ladd, Jimmy and another associate "meet", which leads to the feel of a local skirmish rather than the vast destruction. Still fans of nineteenth century tales will find Nan Ryan's betrayed lovers a powerful tale.
Harriet Klausner
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Shallow & uninteresting characters
14 Feb 2008
By Shaila Jade
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Not since Cassie Edwards have I come across such poorly developed plot and characters. This was supposed to be about the pain of losing a childhood sweetheart, then--part 2--revenge on Ladd's (Sutton's) part. To begin with, I see nothing special about our heroine Laurette. She grew up rich and pampered, and not even during/after the Civil War did her character fully mature. I was not able to see the extent of her grief and pain over the loss of her family, and her young lover, Ladd. Upon learning of his death, she marries another man within weeks...she could not even see through his deceitful nature. Laurette seems very weak and gullible, one of those spineless females I hate reading about.
Ladd, on the other hand, while suffering the violence and brutality of war, also came out quite the same in terms of emotional maturity. All he cares about is his so-called revenge. He felt Laurette had betrayed him by marrying his tormentor Jimmy Tigart. He never stopped to consider what might have happened to Laurette (or what sort of news had been filtered down to her) while he'd been imprisoned. His attempt at being a heartless rake was lame and unimpressive, and I can't believe Laurette actually fell for this virtual stranger. About the only thing "scandalous" about their affair was her willingness to engage in oral sex in broad daylight. Yawwn...nothing new there.
To add insult to injury (which, in this case, is an extremely lackluster story) the author finishes off with a very abrupt ending. Not my kind of romance at all. Definitely thumbs-down for me.
Ladd, on the other hand, while suffering the violence and brutality of war, also came out quite the same in terms of emotional maturity. All he cares about is his so-called revenge. He felt Laurette had betrayed him by marrying his tormentor Jimmy Tigart. He never stopped to consider what might have happened to Laurette (or what sort of news had been filtered down to her) while he'd been imprisoned. His attempt at being a heartless rake was lame and unimpressive, and I can't believe Laurette actually fell for this virtual stranger. About the only thing "scandalous" about their affair was her willingness to engage in oral sex in broad daylight. Yawwn...nothing new there.
To add insult to injury (which, in this case, is an extremely lackluster story) the author finishes off with a very abrupt ending. Not my kind of romance at all. Definitely thumbs-down for me.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tantalizing seductions and burning passion in war-drama
10 April 2002
By Desmond Chan
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Set in the incendiary Civil War era of 1860s, Nan Ryan scripts her latest novella THE SCANDALOUS MISS HOWARD about a pair of childhood sweethearts in Mobile, Alabama separated by treachery and betrayal. Ladd Dasheroon and Laurette Howard both from distinguished Southern families are torn apart when Ladd is conscripted to the Confederacy to fight the Union. Captured and exiled by the Northern soldiers to the Devil Castle, he survives the bitter imprisonment with hopes of returning back to Laurette. When his best friend Jimmy Tiggart now a major is posted to Devil Castle, his hopes of escape is revived. Little did he know that Jimmy has set his eyes on Laurette. He collaborated with LaKid, the supervisor to banish him to the heathens and lies to Laurette that he is dead as a prisoner of war. The betrayal is seething. The devastating news of Laurette's marriage to Jimmy extinguished his hope for life.
He desires revenge and fate intends for him to befriend Finis Schaefer, a benefactor who taught him arts and culture and passed him a map to hidden gold he stole. When he escapes, he returns to Mobile as Sutton Vane to seek revenge on Jimmy and ultimately his sweetheart who hurt him the most - Laurette....
THE SCANDALOUS MISS HOWARD sounds risque for a love drama set in the throes of war, yet the languid sensuality scorches with its passionate scenes and seduction. Nan Ryan smoothly intertwines the mechanisms of factual political intrigue and war to give credibility to her romance. However the part on his imprisonment and escape bears an uncanny resemblance to Alexandra Duma's The Count of Monte Cristo and hence its originality suffers.
Nan Ryan delivers a romance packed with emotions and seething betrayal as usual but it cannot be compared to her 1996 romance, You Belong To My Heart of a similar theme which boasts more developed characters and gratifying story-line. THE SCANDALOUS MISS HOWARD is nonetheless an enjoyable treat from Ms. Ryan who pens a scorching hot read.
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