Books › Scandal of the Year
Scandal of the Year
372 pages
A deliciously angsty historical romance where a desperate bid for freedom sparks a fiery, healing passion.
What it feels like
This historical romance wraps the reader in an emotionally charged atmosphere where the glittering facade of high society hides deep, personal scars. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, driven by the delicious tension of a fiercely proper duke being thoroughly undone by a woman who has nothing left to lose. Beneath the steamy, passionate encounters lies a poignant exploration of trauma, agency, and the desperate measures required to escape an abusive past. The prose is elegant yet emotionally direct, grounding the scandalous premise in genuine vulnerability and hard-won trust. It is a deeply satisfying read for anyone who loves watching a buttoned-up hero unravel in the face of a heroine's brave, messy fight for her own liberation.
- Mood
- emotionally charged
- steamy
- shadowed
- romantic
- Tone
- passionate
- earnest
- angsty
- sensual
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- healing from trauma · reclaiming agency · the facade of propriety · forbidden desire · the cost of scandal
- The writing
- Elegant and emotionally direct, balancing steamy sensuality with poignant introspection.
- The arc
- Moves from desperate, calculated ruin to a vulnerable awakening, culminating in a fiercely protective and healing love.
- Who it's for
- Fans of historical romance who crave the delicious tension of a buttoned-up hero undone by a woman fighting for her own freedom.
Content notes
- past domestic abuse
- past sexual assault
- trauma recovery
About the book
"One tryst was all she wanted...From the 17 year old's very first meeting in 1891, Julia knew that Aidan Carr, the oh-so-proper Duke of Trathen, had a bit of the devil in him, a devil who secretly yearned for what he could not have, a devil who harbored a desire for her. So 12 years later when she needed to be caught in a compromising situation, 29 year old Aidan was the answer to her prayers. One tryst just wasn't enough...Aidan is supposed to be looking for a bride, yet his scandalous liaison with 29 year old Julia is all he can think about. Hot, erotic memories of kissing her skin, falling into her bed, pulling her naked body on top of his own continue to torment and tempt him. What is it about this brazen seductress that he finds so hard to resist? And how can he stop himself from falling into her bed a second time?"
Description from Open Library.
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