A Scandalous Publication
Sandra Heath
Outspoken and bookish, Miss Charlotte Wyndham is still unmarried at 23 and now her father has died leaving Charlotte and her mother with immense debts which require them to sell their home and move to London. The buyer is Sir Maxim Talgarth, who is rumored to be kin to the devil! To make matters worse, Max is involved in a liaison with Charlotte's bitter rival, Lady Judith Taynton. Both Max and Charlotte provoke each other with harsh words and they hope never to see each other again. In London, Charlotte overhears a private conversation between Judith and her cousin Miss Sylvia Parkstone, whose sister was once married to Max Talgarth. Sylvia accuses Max of killing her sister and ruining and killing Charlotte's father as well. Sylvia loathes Max with a passion and befriends Charlotte to ensure Charlotte understands what a wicked person Max is. Charlotte decides to vent her anger by writing a private, never to be published expose novel about Max. However, Max goes out of his way to ensure that Charlotte knows and believes the truth about him and Charlotte doesn't know what to think at first; she can't deny her growing attraction for Max but she doesn't want to betry her friendship with Sylvia. Past actions become regrettable when secrets become public and threaten to ruin Charlotte's happiness. The story is well-developed and progresses fairly well. The writing is polished but not to the caliber of Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen, but much better than False Steps. I thought Charlotte's book should have featured more into the story and come into play earlier. I liked the concept of an outspoken and bookish heroine but Charlotte comes off as mean and nasty at times. Her early exchanges with Max are mean and angry and not wity. I enjoyed this book though and I would recommend it to those who like Pride and Prejudice style romances.
