Review: A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp

A WINTER SCANDAL by Candace Camp
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Historical Romance
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 431 pages
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star (October 25,2011)
ISBN: 9781451639506

When plain and proper Thea Bainbridge stumbles upon a baby in the manger of her church's nativity, she is understandably shocked. Discovering a brooch bearing the insignia of Gabriel, Lord Morecombe, hidden among the child's clothing, she is certain the dissolute rake is to blame. Incensed, Thea sets out to reproach the arrogant lord---only to find herself utterly swept away.
Gabriel is intrigued by the vivacity in Thea's flashing gray eyes when she accuses him of fathering the orphan, even as he adamantly maintains his innocence. The brooch is one he remembers all too well, however, and Gabriel is determined to find the mother of the missing child. As the mystery around the baby deepens, Gabriel is continually thrown together with Thea---and finds himself growing more entranced every day.
Even with whispers of winter scandal swirling around them, they cannot deny the longing in their hearts. A longing which promises the best gift of all: a shelter from the storm... in each other's arms. (source: back cover)

Where to Find Candance: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N/Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Book Page | Read an Excerpt

I loved it!

REVIEW:
Another holiday themed book and it's starting to get in the holiday spirit. I might even dig out the tree a month early.

Thea Bainbridge is an upstanding citizen, a pillar of the community and a giver. She helps her brother prepare his sermons and helps everyone with any problem they have. She puts everyone ahead of herself. Resigned to being on the shelf, she's determined to help her brother with all things pertaining to the church until he decides to take on a wife. Well, life is good and the holiday season has just begun. As she's preparing to set up the nativity scene, she discovers an adorable baby boy abandoned in the manger (how ironic) whom she christens "Matthew".

Discovering a pin with the seal of Lord Gabriel Morecombe, she rushes to his home all in a tizzy to rip him a new one. Looking like a woman well tumbled and half crazed, yelling at him in front of his friends, she realizes that may not have been the best way to go about trying to get Morecombe to take responsibility for the child.

Morecombe is surprised and somewhat taken by this mad woman who banged down his door with a baby in her arms. He is in full denial until he studies the child, who has the same features as his sister Jocelyn. And thus the search for his sister begins. Morecombe's sister was betrothed to one of his best friends but she ends up running away, breaking the engagement. No one knows why and since then, there's been a rift between Morecombe and Rawdon.

As the search for Morecombe's sister commences, he and Thea spend a lot of time together. They both agree that Matthew would be better off with Thea until Morecombe makes his home more kid friendly or if his sister comes back to claim her child. Thea points out, much to Morecombe's frustration, that his sister was afraid to tell him about the baby because of scandal.

Between trying to care for Matthew, finding Morecombe's sister, resisting their feelings for each other and discovering Matthew's kidnapper, Thea and Gabriel find that miracles do happen during the holidays.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "And exactly how could I have carried this baby for nine months, then delivered it six months ago, all without anyone in the village knowing about it? Or even suspecting anything? How could I possibly have kept such a thing secret for the past year? When would I have carried on some mad affair with a London nobleman? I mean, really, I ask you, when would I have delivered a baby in secret?"

OVERALL: My first Candace Camp book and I think I shall read more. I may be a bit partial to this book since I'm a total sucker to holiday themed books and this one is no different. Thea's 10 year crush on Gabriel and him realizing years too late is heart tugging. Isn't that like any typical man? Only seeing the pretty girls and bypassing the quiet ones. This is a story of love, loss, forgiveness and miracles, wrapped in a neat little bow of holiday magic and sultry kisses.


***book provided by Ayelet Gruenspecht from Pocket Books for review***