This story was okay, I wouldn't buy it though. After page 100, I was still reading the set up of the story. I didn't like the heroine, and felt that both hero and heroine were not very well developed. The background of Venice was a nice change, but this story didn't work for me.
Helpful Score: 4
This book was enjoyable, but had several problems. A lot of the background information was missing and the villains in the story are really only in one scene early in the book. It was hard to sympathize with the heroine, the setting of Venice could have been a little richer and more detailed, and although I'm no Italian expert, there were a few mistakes even I picked up on. Not up to Lord of Scoundrels quality, but it's an okay read.
Helpful Score: 2
Regency romance set in Venice, circa 1820. Deviishly handsome English nobleman, working undercover for the Crown, must retrieve important papers from an expat (ie. wronged Englishwoman) living in Venice. OF COURSE, they fall in love & happy endings all around. Well written, but no surprises; its a Regency romance, after all.
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
James Cordier is a spy for the Crown and basically a male whore. Francesca Bonnard is a courtesian living in Italy. James's mission is to get a packet of treasonous letters written by Francesca's ex-husband which Francesca stple from her husband. In order to get close to her, James must play the besotted swain. He plays a good part but falls in love in the process. It's an exciting adventure with people repeatedly trying to kill Francesca for the letters and James rescuing her. I thought this dragged a little and found it rather boring at times. The story takes place in Venice and all the characters broken English really got on my nerves but all in all a good story.
Margaret H. (ExPeruanista) -
I agree with the reviewers who say the book just didn't work for them. The lead male character only seemed to have two emotions: lust and annoyance - not much of a repertoire. Also, a little more research by the author would have told her that, due to the extremely unsanitary condition of the Venetian canals then and more recently, all that falling/leaping/pushing into canals would have led to typhoid, typhus or cholera, not just "Eeuw, you smell like canal, let's go have a bath."
Too bad, as I liked most of Loretta Chase's previous books.
Too bad, as I liked most of Loretta Chase's previous books.
Karin A. (Jerseygirltoo) -
I thought the H&H were a perfect match, unlike a lot of romances where the virginal heroine is paired with a debauched rake. They were BOTH truly scandalous, which is a bit of a departure from the conventions of the genre. I gave it a 4, I thought it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the Venetian setting, the secondary characters, and Chase's trademark humor. And I love a book where the hero knows what he wants and goes after it, and does not have to be hit over the head to realize he's in love.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed Your Scandalous Ways (Fallen Women, Bk 1) on + 1726 more book reviews
A great read, lots of fun, tension and want to know in person type characters.
Heather H. (harrhn0011) - , reviewed Your Scandalous Ways (Fallen Women, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
Usually I can read a book like this pretty fast, but this one took a long time. I kept reading a chapter and then putting it down. It just didn't hold my attention. The problem is that I could never seem to like either of the main characters. Because of this, I didn't care about their story or what happened next. I thought, like other reviewers, the villains seem to appear only a couple of times, and didn't really add much to the book. I would have liked to know more about those letters and what was so important in them. I also wanted to know more of the backstory of each character, Francesca's marriage and James' early career decisions. Maybe that would have made them more likable. On the plus side, I did enjoy the occasional wit of the author that was slipped in here and there. Overall, this is not one of Loretta Chase's best works.
