A Not So Scandalizing Review: Scandalizing the Ton
Happy Friday One and All!!
I am a self-confessed pathetic fiction reader when the semester gets into full swing. I have so much else to read (at least 2 books a week for 2 different classes this semester) that I find little time for the little pleasures of life. Naturally, I devote all of my Christmas and summer holidays to these little bouts of pleasure (with a few notable exceptions). However…I picked up the supremely fabulous Scandalizing the Ton by Diane Gaston this week at the bookstore and did one of those tiny little skim reads in front of the bookshelf at the store. You know the kind—the one where you test the waters (maybe even flip to the back page to read the end first **guilty**) before you take it home. In my case, it was about whether I would delay my gratifcation in reading this or blow off grading my students papers so that I could enjoy the pleasures of a fine romance novel.
Naturally, I chose pleasure. 
And what a pleasure it was! Diane weaves a beautiful tale of a woman scandalized by the dirty dealings of her recently deceased husband and one of the most notorious rakes in London. Lydia and Adrian make a most compelling couple as they navigate the pitfalls of a relationship in the midst of all the entanglements that come with being in positions of notoriety.
After a one-night fling, Lydia finds herself in a, ahem, delicate way. Although she lies to Adrian about the paternity of the child, they eventually find their way into a legitimate relationship…and all this in spite of the wagging tongue of the ton.
Scandalizing the Ton is a gorgeous tale of trust and faith in love when hope has been destroyed. I truly loved reading this book—and it was well-worth all the sleep I lost last night as I feverishly graded papers to turn back to my students today. 
So, dear reader, do share. What are some of the recent releases that you found you simply could not put down? And if you have not read Scandalizing the Ton yet, go out and find it today!!
I love Diane’s books, and I am looking forward to STT. I have been since I first read Diane’s description of it as a story about paparazzi Regency-style.
I went wild buying books yesterday. I bought STT along with ten other books. I’m reading Lisa Kleypas’s Seduce Me at Sunrise today. I will be blogging about it tomorrow.
Unfortunetaly, I have not read a memorable book these last months… Probably because I have not had much time to read.
The cover of your new book has a modern twist… I really like it!
Janga—I bought SMAS on Tuesday, as well. I cannot wait to delve into that one. LK’s books are so delicious!
Nathalie—I know what you mean. Sometimes it is just the hardest thing to find time to enjoy the pleasure of a good book.
And isn’t the cover interesting? It’s fascinating how some publishers conceptualize stories through cover art.
Smiles,
É
I really enjoyed Michelle Willingham’s latest–Her Warrior Slave. And I’m eagerly awaiting Sarah Mayberry’s latest–Amorous Liaisons…
Let’s see…..
Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
Before the Scandal by Suzanne Enoch
His Captive Lady by Anne Gracie
Tempted by the Night by Elizabeth Boyle
There are a few more but these popped into my head now.
I can’t wait to red Scandelizing the Ton. I simply adore Diane Gaston and have devoured all her books.
I can’t wait to read so many of the wonderful books out now. I think I deserve a treat of getting a dozen or so books before the year is out!
Am actually reading my first DG right now (The Vanishing Vicountess) as part of my big Harlequin Experiment. I’m reading six historical titles from different times periods concurrently to see what happens (i.e. I have almost no experience with category and thought I should get some).
Elodie, how nice of you to blog about Scandalizing the Ton. I’m so sorry I ate up your student grading time. (not really)
Janga and Santa, you are both darlings! I’m late to thank you because I was finishing my novella for the anthology The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor, coming May 2009, three connected stories with Amanda McCabe and Deb Marlowe.
Maya, I hope you like The Vanishing Viscountess. If so, you’ll meet those characters again in Scandalizing the Ton. I hope you enjoy your Big Harlequin Experiment. I’m intensely proud of Harlequin Historical. I think they are very innovative and willing to take chances on subject matter and time period. And their covers, on the whole, are stunning. Fedora mentioned Michelle Willingham. Michelle is breaking new ground with her Irish Medievals. Who else would have taken a chance on that setting?
I’m so glad you liked my cover for Scandalizing the Ton. I worried that it might be too sweet for the subject matter of the book, but I do love the colors. I am partial to the bare-chested hero, like on Vanishing Viscountess.
By the way, The Risky Regencies will be interviewing Julia Quinn about Mr. Cavendish, I Presume, on Oct 26. I’ll come back to remind you all somehow, but I’m hoping my gypsies will visit that day, so I can impress Julia with our numbers. She’s giving away a copy of her back list.
Maya—you totally should go find all of Diane’s other books. The Vanishing Vicountess is linked to Scandalizing the Ton and so fabulous.
Diane—I am more than happy to brag about your books.
And your new novella sounds fantastic! What a great group of authors to get together in one book! Can’t wait until May 2009—and not just b/c it will be the end of the schoolyear. 
Smiles,
É
Diane’s latest is just fabulous, as are all her books. I’ve been a fan for years!