~ A GOTHIC ROMANCE WORTH READING, BUT WAS DEFINITELY UNEVEN FOR ME (3.5 stars) ~


While some aspects of this book were really superb, I had several issues that stopped it from being stellar for me. This is my first Charlotte Featherstone book, though I've been wanting to read her book Sinful for awhile, and I definitely think she's a talented author and one I will seek out in the future.

PRAISE:
The hero and heroine were wonderful as individuals and together as a couple. Isabella Fairmont (23) and Jude Sheldon, Earl of Black (33) are well-written and three-dimensional characters, both tormented by secrets in their past that they are trying to put behind them. Black is a very dark, sensual hero - reminded me of Caire from Elizabeth Hoyt's Wicked Intentions - and while he might have overshadowed a weaker or more timid heroine, I think that Isabella stood her ground with him (while flip-flopping a little too much for my taste).

The chemistry between them is *sizzling*, and in this area I was actually not sure what to expect, since Featherstone's books Sinful and Addicted are marketed as erotic novels. While she does an excellent job at writing sexual tension between Isabella and Jude - and it's a large part of their romance - their relationship progresses stage-wise at the pace one usually finds in historical romances.

I'll admit that I have a thing for those dark and tormented heroes - who doesn't? - and my biggest weakness is heroes who are intensely drawn to their heroines - on the healthy side of obsession, shall we say? Black definitely delivers on both these fronts with his single-minded devotion to and pursuit of Isabella. I absolutely loved how strong his feelings were for her, as well as one of the mysterious reasons it started.

We're introduced in this book to the leads of both books 2 and 3, and I found all of them very engaging and intriguing, with the exception of Lucy, Isabella's cousin and the heroine of the next book. She got on my nerves and her complete disregard for the Duke of Sussex, who seems like he will be a fabulous hero, did not endear her any more to me.

The final thing that I absolutely loved is a spoiler, so I unfortunately can't detail it. I will say that out of the 300-400 historical and contemporary romances I have read so far, this is the first one that had this incorporated into one of the main characters. I thought it was very brave of Featherstone and for personal reasons, I thought it wonderful that she included that and wish that it had been more fully explored.

CRITICISM:
While the strength of this book was the main characters' relationship, it was also the biggest weakness for me. There was so much potential, with all the right ingredients, but while Black's feelings for Isabella felt authentic, he almost always expressed them out loud by describing their physical connection and it seemed to revolve solely around him wanting to finally bed her - and then be able to bed her every day for the rest of his life. Due to a specific aspect of how his feelings for Isabella came to be, and even some of his internal thoughts about her, I thought that the depth was actually there and did exist, but was not expressed enough or fully acknowledged. For Isabella's part, she is definitely attracted to Black (who wouldn't be?!), but I saw no basis for her to have an emotional connection with him so quickly in the beginning of their relationship. While at first her internal struggles added an interesting dimension, eventually I grew tired of her attempt at an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude and felt that Black deserved more constancy on her part.

This is not a paranormal romance, but I personally had to categorize it as one because there are some really weird things going on. There's the subplot, which involves mysterious powers and forces and reminded me of Amanda Quick's Arcane and Vanza series. That in and of itself could have slipped by, but what was up with the book that Isabella is writing? As she writes it, some parts of it come to pass between her and Black, so ... Was she making it happen? Was she predicting the future? I don't know and since it was never explained, even illogically, it bothered me. There is also Isabella's entire morbid relationship with Death, which she talks and writes about as if it's a person, and her constantly seeing shadows, feeling darkness, etc. That, combined with Black's very gothic character, made the book feel extremely melodramatic at times.

The mystery subplot is one that runs throughout the series, so nothing is fully resolved in this book, though I think several things are pretty easily guessed. A great deal of the subplot action is crammed in at the end and that, followed by a quick HEA conclusion to Isabella and Black's romance, make the ending feel very abrupt.

Finally, there was an overall feeling of inconsistency for me. The romance, the characters, the mystery subplot - all of them had a stop-and-go quality that I'm not sure I can properly explain. While some points or aspects of the story are belabored (Isabella's internal struggle, that she and Black are both emotionally haunted, her fear of darkness and the shadows, etc.), others are glossed over, not fully fleshed out, and/or flimsily explained (why he initially became interested in her, why he approaches her now, Isabella's thinking behind her "unfortunate event," etc.).

THE BRETHREN GUARDIANS SERIES:
Book 1 - Seduction & Scandal (3.5 stars)
Book 2 - Pride & Passion (exp. publication date: Dec 2011)
Book 3 - (Title Unknown)

BOTTOM LINE:
I would recommend SEDUCTION & SCANDAL and might myself read it again - Black is delicious, and the attraction and connection between him and Isabella at times leap off the page, both making it worth a read. However I had several issues with the book that left me feeling as if not enough had been explained and wanting more depth or background. I will therefore most likely not be buying my own copy, and will instead check it out from the library if/when I want to read it again.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt
Seven Secrets of Seduction by Anne Mallory

* This review is of an advance reading copy provided by Harlequin through NetGalley.

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I have a bevy of mixed emotions when it comes to this book and not all of them are good. It's not as if I hated this book, but I sure didn't like it too much at least for the first half of the book. It took me awhile to get into a groove of reading this book. Also, it took me awhile to figure out what kind of story it was. During the beginning of the book it had a lot of paranormal elements that seem to all but disappear towards the end of the book. I found myself continuously turning the page hoping that it would get better. It finally did, but towards the second half of the book and to me, it only got slightly better. I had a hard time connecting with the hero. I did not understand what the Earl of Black was aiming for when it came to Isabella. He seems to have such strong feelings towards her but whenever he is with her, he just talks about bedding her. Umm, those are not the words a female wants to hear. I just don't understand why he was so hestitant to tell he loved her when he has supposedly loved her from afar for two years now.

One thing I did enjoy with this story were all of the secondary characters. I really found that I liked Sussex and I can't wait to read about his and Lucy's HEA. Also, there seemed like there was some underlining tension between Elizabeth and Alynwick that I would too see more of. All in all I would like to read the rest of the series I just won't be buying the books. I'll just wait and check them out from my local library.

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I agree that it was a little up and down for me but over all I really liked the characters and the suspense and will read the rest of the series because I must find out what happens!!
I enjoyed how the story was woven together but would have liked a little more foreshadowing of how everyone was linked a few more steamy encounters between H and H would have been good too!

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The first novel in a new, historical series from Ms. Featherstone offers an extraordinary tale of extreme passion, mystery and intrigue. Here, the passion of Isabella and Black is fundamentally entwined with the mystery and magic of the Brethren Guardian storyline. SEDUCTION AND SCANDAL harkens back to the days of the gothic romance. The opening lines of the novel are a good example.

Isabellas mother passes away and Issy is sent to live with her cousin. But before Issy leaves, she commits an act so horrendous and shameful, that she will do anything to keep it hidden. Issy feels that it was passion and lust that killed her mother; she is determined not to let that happen to her. Instead, Issy lets her passion flow through the hidden novels she pens and settles into marrying a dull, boring man.

Lord Black has watched Issy from afar and he can no longer keep his distance. His possessiveness of Issy is almost, almost overwhelming. When these two are together, you can feel the sizzle and burn. The story gets even better when secrets of her past start to emerge and danger from Blacks Brethren Guardians raises its ugly head.

I must mention Issys cousin, Lucy. She is the complete opposite of Isabella. She has known love and passion, and lost them both. On the outside, she is the life of the party; never wanting to disappoint. But secretly, she will do anything, going as far as the occult to find the love she lost.

In SEDUCTION AND SCANDAL, she has a bit of the Templar legend, some occult, a little magic and the beguilement of Death. Ms. Featherstone is adept at taking the hunger and passion of romance to a benchmark level.

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Isabella Fairmont is a woman who knows the heartbreak reckless behavior can cause. Unlike her mother before her, she has sworn never to risk her reputation by allowing herself to succumb to passions. That doesn't stop her from jotting a few down in her secret journal, however ;)

Night after night she pens the tale of Death and his dark and passionate desire for his heroine. And, night after night, her cousin Lucy listens with bated breath to hear the next scene in the undeniably romantic tale that Isabella weaves.

But for Isabella, it isn't merely a tale of Death and his lover.

Isabella knows Death, and all too well. She's seen him before. She knows he's that dark figure stalking from the shadows and stealing those she holds dearest. But there's something more, and she can sense it's only a matter of time before he comes to claim her as well...

Shrouded in mystery and scandal, the Earl of Black's days are spent hiding in the shadows careful to avoid the prying eyes and wagging tongues of the ton. From afar he has watched Isabella, his heart aching desperately to be with her (*double-sigh*). He knows that Isabella has already endured so much loss and heartache. If he were to somehow let her know how he longs to be with her, Isabella would inevitably find out about his past and never give him another glance.

It isn't until another suitor begins to court Isabella that he can stand in the shadows no more.

Although she loved her mother and misses her dearly, Isabella knows her mother was misled and taken advantage of by men. It will take more than mere declarations of love or even a stolen kiss to ever sway her.

She is determined not to follow in her mother's footsteps, and so, Isabella is hoping to marry the handsome and kind--albeit a bit boring--archeologist whose been courting her. Besides, he's an honest man and seems to care for her. With him, Isabella will be secure from even the slightest shred of scandal. There doesn't have to be love or even passion (and believe me there isn't--just sayin'), so long as she has security and the respect of those around her.

Just when she thinks her future is sealed, she meets the one man who ignites her emotions more than anyone else she has ever known.

The Earl of Black is dark, undeniably handsome, seductive and mysterious. He's everything that Isabella has striven to steer clear of. But there is more to it, and more to him. He knows things, far too many things about Isabella, whereas Isabella knows nothing about his past. And his eyes, so full of desire and want, it's as if he can peer in to her very soul...

She knows she should stay away, but she can't seem to bring herself to stop from seeing him. Each whisper, each caress drives her slowly down the same reckless path her mother took. But what of Black's past? Why for so long was he withdrawn from the public eye? Then there are those missing actresses from the theater and the sudden death of a magician mere minutes after Black said the man wouldn't be around much longer...

But how could she possibly stay away?

Little by little events begin to unfold. Stolen artifacts, secret societies, ghosts, murder and of course smokin' hot romance!

For me, this tale was like a Sherlock Holmes meets National Treasure with enough romance to have you squirming in your seat! The passion, build up, intensity, mystery and finally the climax was wonderfully written. I was completely embroiled in it. Who is Black? How does he know Bella so well? The passion between these two sizzles!

Although I absolutely adored Black, it was the secondary character the Duke of Sussex that utterly stole my heart.

Similar to Black, you learn that he pines for Isabella's cousin Lucy from afar. Yet, she doesn't give him the time of day. Ugh, my heart ached for him! If you've read Featherstone's books before, you know how passionately she pens her characters and how realistic their emotions feel to you as you read. I was heartbroken for Sussex with the closing of this book.

But, I'm BEYOND excited to learn that his story is the next book in this series! I seriously cannot wait. No, seriously. How am I going to make it until the end of the year to read his story?

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