The Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell – a Review

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Description:
A horse race in trousers on Rotten Row. Visiting a gaming hall in a dress that would make her mother faint. Sneaking an invitation to a masquerade ball attended by only the wickedest, most debauched members of society…

None of these things are scaring off bookish but strong-willed Amelia Bishop’s stuffy, egotistical fiancé.

The only thing left is to entice childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield into a truly engagement-ending scandal. The Wakefields are the height of propriety, and Nicholas’s parents have made it clear a wife from the neighboring Bishop family would be unacceptable…

But Nicholas would give up his family and his fortune if Amelia would ever see him as more than just a childhood friend. He’ll go along with her scheme, even if it means ruining them both, because he’s got a plan that will change her mind about him being merely the boy next door. 

Review:

I quite enjoyed The Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell.  Ms. Bell set the stage for the adventures of Amelia and Nicholas from the very beginning and these two characters just ran away with the story.  Amelia and Nicholas were also well matched with the secondary characters of Amelia’s sister Julia and Nicholas’ friend Jasper.  These two characters were a hoot to have around, and there was never a dull moment when they were in scenes with the other characters.  Let’s just say everyone needs a Julia and Jasper in their lives.  I really enjoyed how they supported the main couple, but at the same time provided backstory and furthering of the plot line for Amelia and Nicholas.  The Importance of Being Scandalous was fast paced, cheeky and fun.  I couldn’t help but LoL many times at Amelia and her sister as they plotted ways to get Amelia out of her engagement to that horrid excuse for a man Embry.  Him I did not like from the first scene he was in.  He’s just one of those males that I find sketchy and give me the creeps.  Personally I couldn’t wait for him to either call off the engagement, or mysteriously disappear suddenly. 

The romance between Amelia and Nicholas is sweet and seductive, yet set up nicely with no rush or preamble.  She lets the characters explore these underlying feelings they’ve always had for each other, and come to the realization that they’ve been in love from their first meeting as teenagers.  When Amelia finally realizes she’s been in love with Nicholas since forever it’s like she’s been kicked in the head from her horse.  I was waiting anxiously for this revelation to dawn on her and if it wasn’t for her sister Julia, who knows if she ever would’ve come to this conclusion on her own.  Well maybe by the time she was in her senior years, lol!!  Nicholas and Amelia are  well suited and this allowed for the romance to blossom, the chemistry and anticipation to build to a boiling point for when the two finally do submit to temptation.  Even then, that dolt Embry won’t call off the engagement. He’ll go to any lengths to keep Amelia, even plotting with Amelia’s mother to ferret her away to another country where he can marry her at sea and force her to be his.  The ensuing scenes with Amelia, Julia, Nicholas, Jasper and his twin sister are fast paced and comical as they race against time to get away from Embry so Amelia and Nicholas can escape to Scotland to be secretly married. 

As I said earlier, The Importance of Being Scandalous is fast paced, cheeky and fun.  It’s full of LoL moments between the sisters, as well as best friends Nicholas and Jasper.  The characters are lively, well developed and carry the story with ease, keeping the reader entertained from beginning to end.  If historical romance, with a good dose of scandalous behaviour is your cup of tea, then look no further then Kimberly Bell’s The Importance of Being Scandalous. 

Until next time, happy reading everyone!

Reviewed by Marcie

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