The Writing Rose

[bc:To Wed in Scandal|16097601|To Wed in Scandal (Scandal in London, #2)|Liana LeFey|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1363130569s/16097601.jpg|21906250]

audiobook review:

Lady Sabrina is the youngest sister about to be launched into her first London season and she is determined not to let her heart rule her choice of husband. Her mother did that and was dreadfully unhappy when her father took on mistresses and left her mothers bed. That was not the marriage she has decided upon and it would be a sensible choice with a man she could tolerate and not one that would consume her heart.

That was until Henry, Viscount Montgomery, kissed her. As a child he had courted one of her sisters and she hadn't like him much then and played continual pranks on him to get him to leave. What she wasn't aware of was that he was only visiting their house out of politeness and that neither he or her sister wanted to wed. It was being arranged for them and luckily they were able to not go through with it.

Now, as Lady Sabrina is of an age to enter society and her first season she has her sights on the very sensible Lord Francis Fairford. He doesn't stir her emotions like Henry and would be a suitable husband - or so she thought until it is found out what his feelings towards women really are.

Sabrina is determined not to let her heart be hurt like she knew her mothers had been and constantly tries to distance herself from Henry so as not to get caught up in a marriage with him. Even though he stirs her like no other man.

Being rational seems her only option and she is constantly talking herself into the option of Fairford, or any other suitor, as a more desirable husband.

Sabrina creates quite a scandal in the tonn as she gets caught in more than one scandalous moment after another (and not all with Henry)...

Henry is very determined to capture Sabrina's heart and marry her, but she is determined to keep him away. However, he is a strong willed hero and manages to get around her defences numerous times to try to prove his point they are meant to be together.

The voice of Justine Eyre is powerful and quickly envelops you into the London scene and keeping you there. I was instantly transported to the era and it helped me to imagine the surroundings as described by Liana LeFey just by the accent of Justine's voice of the London aristrocracy.

Liana has written a great regency romance with Lady Sabrina as a strong willed woman who thinks she knows what she wants, but until her body is awakened by Henry's kisses and she slowly realises want she wants and what she needs are two very different things.

I really enjoyed the twists of the story and the sub plots that wove around the main story line. For example, the french prostitute which Henry and his friend rescued from Fairfords' home.

Especially how Sabrina took on the scandal and stood her ground to answer it directly or quash it with her actions. Facing scandal in any time period is tough enough let alone in genteel society.

This is a wonderful listen and I thoroughly recommend it with 4 out of 5 Flames to all lovers of a regency romance.