Shannon C.’s review of Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
Historical romance published by Avon 27 May 08

It seems that anyone who wants to consider themselves well-read in the romance genre reads Loretta Chase. I mean, how brilliant can an author consistently be if one of her books makes everyone’s best of lists all the time? And there was so much buzz about this release that indicated it was going to be a great book, so I was excited to get to read it.

Since Devon’s review does a good job summarizing the plot, I’ll just recap. James is a spy looking for some letters Francesca has. Francesca’s a courtesan living in Venice, and the letters were sent to her ex-husband. Neither she nor James particularly want to want each other, but they do.

I really liked both these leads. Francesca is smart, resourceful, stubborn, calculating, and mischievous. She’s not really a whore with a heart of gold here. Her struggles felt all too human, and I loved her for them. I loved the fact that she goes after what she wants, and chooses the life of a courtesan so that she can rub her ex-husband’s face in her success.

James is a wonderful foil for her. He fell in with a bad crowd and was rescued from a life of crime so that now he serves Mother England. He has dreams of going back home and marrying some doe-eyed debutante, so he’s nonplussed when he finds himself drawn to the beautiful and wicked Francesca. And when the two of them finally get together, their love scenes are hot.

Chase does a great job of making Venice come alive and presenting the period in a realistic manner. I appreciated the setting of Venice, and I liked all the references to Lord Byron, who must have been an interesting character. And Chase does a great job of making all these characters sound either Italian or English or French. Her dialogue, in fact, just all around sparkles and I enjoyed reading it.

My one complaint was that there were several points in which the story dragged. It felt like it took forever for Francesca and James to meet, and then periodically, I felt the pacing was just a bit too slow.

I’m not sure that I’ll ever reread this book, but I do have to admire Ms. Chase for her craft. This is definitely a good edition to her bibliography.

Grade: B

Summary:
James Cordier is all blue blood and entirely dangerous. He’s a master of disguise, a brilliant thief, a first-class lover—all for King and Country—and, by gad, he’s so weary of it. His last mission is to “acquire” a packet of incriminating letters from one notorious woman. Then he can return to London and meet sweet-natured heiresses—not adventuresses and fallen women.

Francesca Bonnard has weathered heartbreak, scorn, and scandal. She’s independent, happy, and definitely fallen; and she’s learned that “gentlemen” are more trouble than they’re worth. She can also see that her wildly attractive new neighbor is bad news.

But as bad as James is, there are others far worse also searching for Francesca’s letters. And suddenly nothing is simple—especially the nearly incendiary chemistry between the two most jaded, sinful souls in Europe. And just as suddenly, risking everything may be worth the prize.

You can read an excerpt here