Before the Scandal
The Notorious Gentlemen, Book 2

Suzanne Enoch

Publisher:
Avon

Release Date:
July 29, 2008

Genres:
Historical Romance

ISBN:
Print
9780061456749
Kindle
No ISBN

Bookmark Rating:

Reviewed by
Natalie S.

Review Posted:
November 2008

Colonel Phineas Bromley is returning to his birthplace ten years after having left.  On the battlefield he is considered one of the best soldiers in the land.  In the bedroom, women swoon at his ability to grant them their every desires.  It isn’t until he finally returns home that he realizes just how close to ruin his family is and he wants to get to the bottom of it.  Dressing as a highwayman in the dead of night, Phineas runs into Alyse, the girl next door.  The girl that he has never forgotten. 

Alyse Donnelly has never forgotten the fun time she and Phin had when they were younger.  Now that ten years have passed she is sure that he will no longer want anything to do with her but she finds that the boy that left has become a man and she can’t keep her thoughts from focusing on him.  With a home to oversee and a grumpy Aunt to take care of, Alyse has her hands full.  She has yet to live down the scandal years ago in which she was a part and never wants to experience again.   Her heart is in the right place – it is with Phineas.  She can’t help but want him.  He makes her feel free and loved.   

Suzanne Enoch has never before failed to capture my attention with her historical romances.  I am used to dashing heroes and strong heroines who are feisty and full of life.  Phineas and Alyse surprised me.  More mundane at times than I liked, I found myself almost bored at their feelings for each other.  They seemed more like friends than lovers throughout BEFORE THE SCANDAL and I quickly began to skim ahead in the hope of finding  and reading a ‘good’ part.  One character got my dander up more than once and it was Alyse’s aunt.  I despised that old biddy with every breath in my body and more than once imagined her having a slow and miserable death.  Her cousin was also another character I was not fond of.  He was lazy and that instantly made me hate him. Phineas’ was a lovable, albeit aimless in what he wanted to accomplish.  Alyse loved him but even she was often unemotional and almost robotic in nature.   

Flourishing storyline notwithstanding, BEFORE THE SCANDAL is a commendable read. Readers will be swept away by the enchanting setting and the almost fairy tale likeness of Alyse’s life.  The loyalty of Phin’s brother, despite his handicap, is amazing to say the least. Add in the horrible aunt, her lazy son, and Suzanne Enoch has treated us to a historical worthy of any bookshelf.   I look forward to the next installment with bated breath!

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