- Title: Scandal Wears Satin
- Classification: Adult Fiction
- Genre: Historical Romance
- Format: Paperback, 384 pages
- Publisher: Avon (June 26, 2012)
- ISBN-10: 0062100319
- ISBN-13: 978-0062100313
- Author's Website: http://www.lorettachase.com/
- Please Note: I read the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book, therefore, there may be some discrepancies between what I quote and the final version. Assume any and all errors are mine because they probably are.
The Common Cause:
"If I were less of a catch," she went on, "and if it hadn't happened so publicly, with all those people seeing me half undressed, there would be an easier way out."
"You weren't half undressed," Sophy said. "Your bodice was a little disarranged, that was all."
"Not that it makes a difference,"Lady Clara said bitterly. Ruined is ruined."
"We're going to un-ruin you," Sophy said.
When Longmore's sister Clara is ruined by a scheming scoundrel who set out to gain her hand and her fortune by foul means, she runs away. Sophy and Longmore unite to find Clara and a means to prevent the marriage from taking place and to restore Clara's reputation.
The First Impressions:
'Black hair and glittering black eyes...the noble nose that ought to have been broken a dozen times yet remained stubbornly straight and arrogant...the hard, cynical mouth..the six-foot-plus frame.
All that manly beauty.
If only he had a brain.' (Sophy's impression of Longmore)
'A fetching bundle of energy and guile....She did a great deal he found intriguing--starting with the way she walked: She carried herself like a lady, like the women of his class, yet the sway of her hips promised something tantalizingly unladylike.' (Longmore's impression of Sophy)
The Famous last words...
"Love," Longmore said. "Bad idea."
"Love will have its work cut out for it," Longmore said. "I'm not like you. I'm not 'sensitive'. If Love wants to take hold of me, not only will it have to knock me on my arse, it'll have to tie me down and beat to a pulp what some optimistically call my brains."
Sometimes when faced with a lost cause, all you need to do is look at it from a different perspective. Something the Noirot sisters excel at.
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I just adore Loretta Chase's writing style. She has a magical, somewhat whimsical way of writing which makes me smile and enjoy the story so much more. For instance, instead of the 'chocolate' eyes that seem to be all the rage in romance novels lately, she writes, "all she saw were fathomless black depths, hot and promising sin and sin again." While I do love chocolate, describing the hero's eyes as promising sin, well, her way of putting it just sets my heart a flutter. Another example would be this, "She stretched and moved, seeking more, as a cat did when petted, though no cat could feel like this." Such a beautiful description.
Besides her style, her characters just seem so likeable and lifelike. While some might say no one can possibly be so good at creating a different persona as completely as Sophy, I've actually met someone who could and while rare, they do exist. Im fact, I once saw a show that claimed Marilyn Monroe possessed such an ability and could change he persona from one of just your average typically girl to her full fledged movie star glamour within the blink of an eye. I'm not quite sure how they do it, but I'm pretty positive it's something you are just born with and I must say its quite a sight to behold.
The bond between the books in this series is, of course, the Noirot sisters of which there are three. They are all skilled dressmakers each excelling at one aspect of the business making them quite a force to be reckoned with within the industry. Plus, the Noirot sisters are related to the 'Dreadful DeLuceys' from Chase's Lord Perfect (Carsington Brothers series) book which I adored and read prior to beginning my blog. The Dreadful DeLucey's have notoriously bad reputations, and it is rumored that 'whenever a Dreadful DeLucey appeared on the scene, someone's life was sure to change, and seldom for the better." (Lord Perfect; page 90) I don't know about anyone else, but I love it when an author brings ties from one series into another.
Sophy's and Longmore's relationship was so fun to watch. Each was pretty much wrapped in themselves sort of like tightly wound spools of thread. Each set in their ways and independent. As the intricate web of the tale is spun, the two separate threads became intertwined and merge into something beautiful, like the intricate designs on an embroidered dress. The two become as one yet still separate, each complimenting the other in a surprisingly delicate yet sturdy way. My favorite part is when Longmore realizes he's in love. He acts so goofy that it made me chuckle. It was quite charming and endearing and made me fall a little in love with the character myself.
Why is the book called Scandal Wears Satin? Well, I'm not 100% sure. At first I thought perhaps Clara's dress was made of Satin, but the description I read didn't include what fabric was used in her dress. Sophy's dresses, on the other hand, almost always included satin in the description. So, my theory is that Sophy is the person referred to in the title which seems fitting due to what she does to save Clara from an unpleasant fate, namely a loveless marriage to Adderly. It also seems fitting because of the quote I listed above from Lord Perfect. Sophy will definitely change someone's life and not for the better.
Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. A charming tale that was beautifully written containing everything I've come to expect from a story written by Ms. Chase--witty dialogue, intriguing characters, a dash of drama, and of course, romance. Plus, I loved how I had no clue how she would manage to un-ruin Clara. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Notes to keep you in the know:
Since the first book in the series was entitled Silk Is for Seduction and the second is entitled Scandal Wears Satin, I thought it would be fun to know what the difference is between silk and satin. According to d'Italia, "Satin is really just a finish of the silk or of any type of fabric. Satin, is a glossy, shiny finish to a fabric. They are shiny, but they can be made of anything. Satin can be made of silk. It can also be made of polyester or viscose." (To view more about the differences between silk and satin visit the website the above information was found at: http://www.ditalia.com.au/fashion-and-fabric-videos/designer-fabric/silk-vs-satin-about-silk-and-satin-fabric)
Order of Series:
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