Review: Seduction and Scandal by Charlotte Featherstone

Title: Seduction & Scandal

Author: Charlotte Featherstone

Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Harlequin 

Received By: NetGalley

~*~Book Blurb~*~

With the scandalous nature of her birth to live down, Isabella Fairmont dreams of a proper marriage—even if a passionless one. She saves her deepest desires for the novel she dares to pen, wherein a handsome lord with dark powers seduces her. But then her courtship with an appropriate suitor is threatened by the sudden attentions of the reclusive Earl of Black…whose pale blue eyes and brooding sensuality are exactly as she described in her book.

Isabella tries to resist the mysterious Earl of Black. Yet as he pursues her, with inexplicable knowledge of her past and kisses that consume her, Isabella fears she will succumb.

If only the earl could tell Isabella the truth. With very real, and treacherous, thieves endangering her life, Black will need to protect Isabella from the very people she trusts the most….

Seduction and Scandal is the first installment of the new Brethren Guardian series that goes beyond the typical Victorian romance. Reminiscent of Gothic literary elements, Ms. Featherstone delivers a tale with fantastical facets, shrouded in mystery and intrigue, with an air of the supernatural, and a myriad of twists-and-turns in this era historical romance. Seances and fantastical twists to the ever popular mysteries surrounding Freemasonry and the Knights Templar, are welcome additions to breaking up the often traditional monotony of Victorian plots. It had suspense, mystery, and the whodunit feel while trying to figure out who stole an ancient Knight Templar artifact, with powers to destroy, out from under the Brethren Guardian. While at the same time trying to unravel truths and protect ancient rituals, orders, and artifacts, the men of the Brethren Guardian began to fall for the women that may be more closely entwined with their decrees than thought for. It's a matter of keeping them safe as well as keeping the truth locked away.

Fantastic storytelling is what readers will find in Seduction and Scandal. Opening with a side story about Death and the love he feels for a human girl,  represents heroine, Isabella Fairmont's own novel she's penning, as well as becoming symbolic of her relationship with the earl, Lord Black.

The first time I met Death, it was at a ball and we danced a waltz, and I feared him, feared the things he made me feel, made me want. That night I ran from him, but Death was right behind me, chasing me and I wanted him to catch me.

The use of the progressive side story of Death and the girl is woven effortlessly through the actual story of Lord Black and Isabella, both shedding light on Isabella's painful, scandalous, and hidden past, and her ability to see Black as the man she truly desires. Her own words slowly coming to life, sometimes almost acting as foreshadowing on what's to come between her and hero, Black.

Hero, The Earl of Black, is a recluse hiding away in his town home and away from gossiping society. But that doesn't mean he doesn't see what he's missing by not participating in balls and the norm. For across the street is the town house of Marquee Stonebrook, watching over his daughter Lucy, and his niece Isabella Fairmont, brought to live with the marquee after the death of her mother. Brooding over his own past and his feelings of unworthiness to pursuit a beautiful innocent such as Isabella, only slows the determined earl so much. For his pull and desire towards claiming Isabella as his own is "inevitable".

Isabella stubbornly refuses to admit that what she finds in Lord Black is a passion and feel of safety she yearns for, but fears.

"Do not deny it. Admit it," Lucy whispered, "there is someplace inside that wishes for a dangerous man to come and sweep you off your careful, proper feet."

Where she came from always at the forefront of her mind, scaring her into running away from passion and to security, regardless if that's into the arms of a man that could lead her into a passionless marriage. If I had to pick one major qualm, it would be this. Isabella seemed to always let herself go around Lord Black, giving into the passion and feelings she felt for him, yet afterwords always withdraw. Her fear of following in her mother's footsteps became a safety blanket of sorts, and her own convincing that that is what she truly desired often times became too much. However, she definitely redeemed herself in the end!

The characters -- both primary and secondary -- were dynamic, three-dimensional, and 'life-like'. Albeit, a little ostentatious at times, particularly Lucy, but none-the-less very enjoyable. Like previously mentioned, Isabella undergoes character growth by the end, finally taking that jump off the cliff towards passion and leaving behind fear and past constraints.

I thoroughly enjoyed the literary voice in Seduction and Scandal. The ease of the writing style made it easy to follow the twists and turns, as well as the inclusion and back-and-forth integration of Isabella's story of Death. This along with the Gothic literary elements and the fantastical mystery of ancient Knight Templar artifacts made for a wonderful and adventures read and a fantastic addition to the historical romance genre.

The romance is, in Lucy's words, swoon worthy. You could feel the character emotions and easily believe in the development between the hero and heroine. In addition, Ms. Featherstone definitely knows how to create some fabulous sexual tension and some deliciously yummy sex scenes.

I'm really looking forward to the next installment of the Brethren Guardian series titled Pride and Passion, the story of Lucy and the Duke of Sussex (aka. The Duke of Deliciousness)! I can't wait to see how Ms. Featherstone brings this feuding and passionate couple together!