Jenna Peterson, Scandalous

Scandalous

Jenna Peterson

Avon, Oct 2005, $5.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0060798599

At his brother's engagement party, Dominic Mallory desires Katherine Fleming, fianc e of his step-brother Cole, who learns that his wife thought dead in a ship wreck two years ago lives. As his family and her guardians struggle with limiting the scandal, Dominic enjoys the mess. Cole takes his despised brother aside and offers Lansing Square to Dominic if he weds Katherine; Cole would receive Katherine's dowry and property as he explains that he lost them gambling. Reluctantly Dominic agrees to Cole's terms though he hates his sibling. Katherine does not want to marry Dominic, but knows she does not love Cole. Dominic explains her choices and she reluctantly agrees to marry him.

Dominic and Katherine marry and leave for Lansing Square. They make love every night until she decides to make this home perfect for her spouse. Meanwhile during the day, Dominic searches for something, but refuses to tell Kat what he looks for; instead he shakes her by saying they will leave soon and live in London. Kat loves her spouse, but now pregnant plans to leave him as unrequited love is not good for a child as she knows first hand.

The growing love between the lead couple is deftly handled making the tale fun and the love at first sight between Katherine and his Dominic set the tone of the plot. However his step-brother is too pompous, snooty and nasty and Cole's wife is even worse. Still in spite of neither showing any redeeming quality, fans will appreciate this fine nineteenth century romance starring two protagonists who begin to heal due to love.

Harriet Klausner