Book Review: The Improper Bride by Lily Maxton

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After reading about the Marquess of Riverton in the previous book, I thought it would be difficult for Henry Eldridge to make a convincing transformation from a reviled antagonist, to a hero worthy of a happily-ever-after. It takes a fire, and terrible injury in order to shake the Marquess down from his lofty perch. During his recuperation, his housekeeper, Cassandra Davis is tasked to keep him occupied.

The author doesn't really elaborate on her characters' personalities -- and much of what we know of Cassandra and Henry come from our encounters with them in the previous books: Henry Eldridge is cold and arrogant. He had a mistress, but no other anecdotes of failed relationships -- so everything that we know of him is based on his dealing with Julia Forsythe. Cassandra is the same: she's a widow. She is very practical, caring, but not overly so -- she keeps herself at a distance -- as seen in her conversations with Julia and her arrangement with Adam. We get a sense that her husband's death really affected her, and that's why she keeps her feeling to herself.

Cassandra doesn't know whether she should be excited or be afraid of having to keep Riverton company -- by reputation, he isn't the friendliest or most approachable of employers, and she has had very limited contact with him, because he spent most of his time in London. There was also the unpleasant confrontation between Riverton and Julia Forsythe, his ex-mistress. But, on the other hand, Cassandra isn't immune to his appeal.

I am thinking about how the arrangement came to be: Cassandra makes an impulsive decision to ask the Marquess to teach her German, and, after the initial refusal and succeeding outburst, Riverton agrees. Perhaps if the author had taken the time to delve a little bit into Cassandra's backstory, it would be easier to understand why a housekeeper wanted to learn German. Yes, the author hints that Cassandra wasn't born into service, but had chosen to become a housekeeper after her husband died. Henry is intrigued by his housekeeper's boldness, and, maybe it was boredom or something else, but proceeds to teach her German, a most unromantic language -- but, through their daily encounters, esteem and affection and romance slowly blossom. (I also have to give the author props for making Goethe sound very sensual.)

How? Maybe it's the proximity? Maybe it's familiarity? Cassandra is the first female that Henry has had a real conversation with in a very long time. Cassandra is also the first person to see Henry as Henry, and not as a Marquess and future Duke. There is respect for the person, and not adulation for the title. They struggle to keep the relationship platonic -- they need to keep their relationship platonic, for the sake of the household, but the sexual tension is powerful and undeniable as well.

There are obstacles in Henry and Cassandra's path to happiness: he's a marquess, she's his housekeeper. Cassandra is supposed to be the voice of prudence and an example of modesty for all the other servants, and it would ruin her reputation and respectability if she was caught dallying with the master of the house. Henry is supposed to be focusing his energies finding a wife, and securing the succession.

I am on the fence about Henry's sister's participation in the "courtship" -- on one hand, she provided an insight into Henry's upbringing (and supplied a much-needed backstory for why Henry behaves the way he does). I like that she was very progressive about her ideas, and how she really valued Henry's happiness above all. On the other hand, I think she smoothed the road a bit too easily for Henry and Cassandra -- and I would have liked to see our hero and heroine struggle and find a way by themselves --

I have to say, I enjoyed this story more than I did the previous book -- Lily Maxton was able to expand on the tension between master and servant and contrast it with the relationship between man and woman. I also enjoyed the emotional aspect of this novel more.

The Improper Bride is Book 5 in Lily Maxton's Sisters of Scandal series. To find out more about Lily Maxton and her books, click below:
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Book Review: The Mistake by Lily Maxton

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With all three Middleton sisters getting their happily ever afters, I wondered who Lily Maxton would feature as the next "sister of scandal" and I was really looking excited to see that Julia Forsythe was the heroine of the fourth story. Julia Forsythe is a courtesan, and the author of the very scandalous book, Confessions of a Courtesan. When I read the blurb, I was intrigued: Julia is pregnant with the Marquess of Riverton's child. Their relationship has turned sour, but she is still under contract with the Marquess. She has asked for some time (and distance) and traveled to the Marquess's estate, Blakewood Hall, in order to think about her current predicament. It turns out, her childhood friend, Adam Radcliff works at the same estate, and the two seem to have unfinished business.

I loved the tension between Julia and Adam. Adam is clearly still in love with Julia, despite knowing about her profession. He is very determined, and sincere in his care for his friend. The most emotional moments of the story are when they reminisce about their childhood. You could see Julia's longing for a simpler life, but it is also to her credit that she doesn't regret her decision of becoming a courtesan. In that, Julia is a fighter and a survivor.

At this point in her life, however, I think Julia doesn't know what she wants: she seemed to really want to walk away from being a courtesan, and focus on being a good mother to her unborn child -- and Adam is there, offering her the chance -- but, she doesn't take it. She doesn't tell him about the baby, and she doesn't tell him about the conditions of her contract with the Marquess of Riverton.

I didn't like how Julia treated Adam. I felt very bad for him -- he really believed he knew all he needed to know about Julia, but, really, he didn't. In a really sad sense, Julia was leading him on. Julia believes she was doing what was best for her child -- seeking the protection and patronage of his titled father, but the arrangement isn't very detailed and hinges on the Marquess's pleasure or displesure. I wonder if Julia could have demanded more, or sought a contract that protected her and her child better, because her current arrangement with Riverton has soooo many strings attached. The Marquess of Riverton doesn't really figure into the main story, but he is, definitely, ever-present in Julia's mind, and steers her decisions and actions. When Riverton finally makes an appearance, it's hard to believe that Julia stayed with him for that long -- Riverton is arrogant, and cruel -- and a bit one-dimensional. I guess the author is trying to set the stage for the final book, and making Riverton's transformation (from heartless and uncaring to hero-material) dramatic.

Maxton develops a relationship between Julia and Cassandra, the housekeeper at Blakewood Hall. (Cassandra is the heroine of the last book in this series.) They seem to be the same age, but their positions in life are different: Cassandra has been a widow for many years, and Julia is facing the impending challenges of single motherhood. It's interesting to study these two women: both of them are dependent on the Marquess for their livelihood, but in different capacities: one respectable, the other, not. It's also interesting that both Julia and Cassandra share a history with Adam -- but, Cassandra and Adam's relationship had been resolved months before Julia arrived at the estate. Cassandra serves as confidant, and trusted advisor -- but, above all, I like that Cassandra spoke frankly to Julia -- and called Julia out for being too wishy-washy.

Julia closed her eyes briefly, the ache in her throat spreading to the rest of her body. "You know Adam," she said bluntly.

"It would be unusual for the housekeeper not to know the head gardener," Cassandra replied.

"That's not what I meant," Julia answered with steely resolve. She would face the truth, even if it was something she didn't want to hear.

"I know him," Cassandra replied after a second's pause.

They both recognized they were using the word in the biblical sense. "How long?"

...

The housekeeper only leveled those cool blue eyes at her. "This is rather hypocritical of you."

"Hypocritical?" she said, unconvincingly, her voice too high. "I'm simply curious."

"You can't stand the thought of him with another woman. It's written all over your face. Is he supposed to remain celibate while you take lover after lover, and they're all printed about in the broadsheets?"
- p. 133 - 134

While this is the first (and only) full-length novel in the series, and I was really expecting a LOT from this story. I had thought the author would have a greater opportunity to expand on the story, the conflict and the characterizations, but, sadly, I felt that there wasn't much development: it seemed to just revolve around Julia's dilemma over the Marquess and Adam. I may be taking the series premise a bit too literally, but, while Julia has a scandalous reputation, she really doesn't do anything scandalous in her own story, and nothing scandalous happens to her.

The Mistake is the fourth instalment in Lily Maxton's Sisters of Scandal series. To find out more about Lily Maxton and her books, click below:
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Review: The Love Match by Lily Maxton (e-novella)

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Olivia is the last remaining Middleton sister yet unmarried, and it's not a position that she is happy with. Now, her mother's full attention is on her, and all Olivia wants to do is read her gothic novels in peace.

Olivia has no choice when she gets dragged to a house party, but she does find a way to sneak away from her mother's thinly-veiled matchmaking schemes and read her novel in peace.

William Cross is at the same house party, and had expected to be the object of much attention and fawning from the ladies present -- because he knows he has the looks, the charm and the wit to flirt his way through a party. Which is why Olivia Middleton baffles him -- because she isn't interested in him, at all. Even when he unleashes his charm to maximum effect, Olivia sees right through the smarm and walks away.

In terms of characterization, William's personality is more clearly written out -- he is a writer who hasn't written anything for a long while, but who clearly loves books. He has issues stemming back to his mother's abandonment of their family. Olivia isn't as interesting -- she has all the traits of her sister, and her quirk is her love for the gothic and her tendency to dissemble when panicked. But, when they are together, the hero and heroine of The Love Match are truly a memorable match-up: he moves smoothly through society and is, usually, the most sought-after person at any party, and she's socially awkward and loves to fade into the background at gatherings. When faced with a difficult or unwanted social situation, he resorts to insincerity and flattery, and she blurts out the first thing that comes to mind -- and it isn't always the truth.

Words are at the heart of Olivia and William's story -- how can two people work towards an honest and intimate relationship, when their words can't be trusted? But Lily Maxton gives her characters the gift of discernment: William sees through Olivia's fiction, and Olivia doesn't buy into William's appeal. It felt like such an intimate thing -- a shared secret between cohorts, a language only they could understand.

Neither one is interested in marriage, but they recognize that they are kindred spirits. William hesitates to give more than his body to Olivia: having seen the devastation of being abandoned by the one you love, he keeps his heart safe from any such entanglements. Olivia doesn't mind, because she isn't interested in marriage -- but the choice is taken away from them when they are caught in a compromising situation.

This mirrors her sister's predicament, and I wasn't surprised when Olivia made the same decision as her sister did. The Middletons are strong women with minds of their own. True, they are under their mother's control, but it hasn't stopped them from living fully and in the present, and pursuing their curiosities.

The only weakness of this novella is how the author resolved Olivia and William's story, because it seemed like a rehash of Anne and Michael's ending.

The Love Match is the third instalment in Lily Maxton's Sisters of Scandal series. To find out more about Lily Maxton and her books, click below:
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Book Review: The Wager by Lily Maxton (e-novella)

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When I found out that the next book in Lily Maxton's series involved the man whose proposal Elizabeth rejected, and Elizabeth's sister, Anne, I knew I needed to read it right away.

Anne Middleton isn't your typical English lady -- she swears, speaks her mind, and loves to make wagers. In fact, it was a wager that brought about her chance encounter with Michael Grey, the new Earl of Thornhill, who recently proposed to, and got rejected by her sister, Elizabeth. They met very briefly before -- and neither one had a very good impression of the other. Anne and Michael are complete opposites: Anne isn't one to be pinned down by rules, and, while Michael is new to his title, he knows how to behave himself in society.

But, in the library, where Anne walked in and witnessed Michael extracting himself from a compromising situation (not of his own doing), and where Anne had intended to "borrow" the owner's very naughty copy of Confessions of a Courtesan -- it seems that our hero and heroine have found their middle ground, but not without engaging in a war of words first.

Considering the length of this story, I thought it was a great choice that the author decided to develop the characters' relationship through letters -- it's an intimate medium, and allowed us a glimpse into the very private thoughts of Anne and William. Their letters center on the contents of Confessions of a Courtesan, and I really enjoyed this part. It reminded me of a lot of exchanges I've had with book buddies, and it's one of the best things about reading: it's a solitary exercise, but it is also a social exercise. When they finally meet again, it isn't with the same enmity as their initial meetings: now, they are friendlier to each other. Now they have a shared experience, and I was curious about the book pages they kept referring to. (I do hope Lily Maxton decides to publish the actual Confessions of a Courtesan. From what I've seen, it looks to be an *ahem* steamy read.)

Like her sister, Anne decides to assuage her sexual curiosity and she's asked Michael, who hesitates, at first -- but who also cannot deny that he is very, very attracted to Anne.

There's a lot to love in this novella: I love that Michael and Anne have a complicated history. He proposed to her sister first, so Anne will always think that she is just his second choice, which means Michael needs to prove that he is sincere in his regard for Anne. Then there's the question of suitability: Anne is a bit audacious, and Michael is still feeling his way around his title. Anne's sister, Elizabeth, would have been a better spouse for Michael, because she already knows "the lay of the land."

But the heart wants what the heart wants and Maxton provides a convincing resolution to the obstacles Michael and Anne face -- and it's only fitting that, for a story that began with a wager, it would end would one. One where it's actually a win-win for both sides. ^_^

The Wager is the second instalment in Lily Maxton's Sisters of Scandal series. To find out more about Lily Maxton and her books, click below:
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Book Review: The Affair by Lily Maxton (e-novella)

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First thing that came to mind after I finished reading this book: Why is this only a novella?!? I wanted to read more!

Next thing that came to mind: Must buy the rest of the series -- which I did, and was very thankful that they are $0.99 for the next 2 books and $2.99 for Books 4 and 5. So, I am taking a break from Grace Burrowes' Lonely Lords and am enjoying Lily Maxton's Sisters of Scandal. ^_^

Elizabeth, Lady Thornhill, is out of mourning and is reluctantly re-entering society. If she were given a choice, she would be content to live out the rest of her days quietly as a widow, but her mother intends for Elizabeth to remarry as quickly as possible.

Her mother's plan seems to be going smoothly, especially when Elizabeth's husband's cousin, Michael Grey, the new Earl of Thornhill, starts to pay special attention to Elizabeth. Many women in Elizabeth's position would have jumped at the chance of marrying again -- in Elizabeth's case, it would mean remaining the Countess of Thornhill. But Elizabeth isn't convinced that she and Michael would suit. Yes, he seems kinder and more considerate than her late husband -- but, the fact remains that, despite being married for many years, Elizabeth remained childless, and she knows how important it is to secure the succession. Then there's the part of Elizabeth that wonders if there is something more for her to experience.

A chance encounter at a library provides Elizabeth with that opportunity: Cale Cameron is a successful bookseller and owner of the lending library. He has a reputation for being a rake, and Elizabeth is initially wary. But, as their conversation continues, Elizabeth finds herself intrigued and interested in what Cale has to offer.

The affair being referred to in the title lasts seven days, where Elizabeth and Cale agree that their arrangement is only to satisfy their mutual curiosity -- no strings attached, and no promises for tomorrow. It proves to be an enlightening experience for both of them: Elizabeth has never experienced that degree of passion or pleasure ... or intimacy, and Cale has never met anyone as open or as unpretentious as Elizabeth.

But reality looms, and when Elizabeth realizes that she is falling too deeply in love with Cale, she decides to end things and walk away. I admire Elizabeth for her determination -- she knew what she wanted from the relationship, and took control of her life's direction, but I admire her even more for admitting that she had made the wrong decision. Cale also thought he could go back to his life before Elizabeth had walked into it -- and he tries valiantly to be indifferent to the feelings inside him, but, as they say, love cannot be denied.

Admitting love is just one part of the problem: Elizabeth is a (dowager) countess, and Cale is a bookseller. Elizabeth would need to gain her family's approval, and, then society's approval. Or, approval be damned, and choose to turn her back on everything she was born to.

I really loved Maxton's characters and the pace of this story -- at 68 pages, this story is quite short, but she was able to tell such a complete story, and leave a very good impression with those pages.

The Affair is the first instalment in Lily Maxton's Sisters of Scandal series. To find out more about Lily Maxton and her books, click below:
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