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***

W...W...W...(20)

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly meme MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here's my answers:

*Click on the covers to read excerpts/learn more.*

• What are you currently reading?

The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall. I just started it and it looks promising. Evelyn Renshaw's husband just up and disappeared after being accused of treason, leaving her behind to take the brunt of whispers and scandal. A handsome ragged soldier comes to her rescue after being attacked in Hyde Park during an early morning ride. Will she ever see him again?

Sweet Magik by Penny Watson. This is the second book in the Klaus Brothers series. Yes, Santa has five sons that help run the family business and this one is about Oskar Klaus. He's lost interest in his job and not even his favorite thing, snowboarding, can keep him interested. He's long overdue for a well deserved vacation.

A Love By Any Measure by Killian McRae. An English lord in love with an Irish girl, can love overcome social boundaries?

• What did you recently finish reading?

A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp. A sweet story for the holidays. A baby found in a manger, a woman bent on making the father claim and take care of the baby and the said father in denial although the child has a striking resemblance.

Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden. A new take on the archangel myth, four archangels looking for their soulmates and forces on both sides trying to stop them. It was a Netgalley grab and I was totally surprised by how much I liked it. Read my review.

Once Upon A Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare. A novella of the Spindle Cove series. It's a story of The Disappointment, second chances and a pistol packing heroine. No sheep involved this time.

Her Christmas Pleasure by Karen Erickson. What?! Another holiday book you say? Of course! I love this time of year and Karen doesn't disappoint with a sizzling sweet story that's as heady as mulled wine and a stolen kiss under the mistletoe.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Any Given Christmas by Candis Terry. This is the second book in the Sugar Shack series. An injured NFL quarterback goes back to his hometown for Christmas. He's determined to get back in the game but his time in Deer Lick, Montana pairs him together with a kindergarten teacher. Is there more to life than the game?

Forever Mine by Delilah Marvelle. Squee! Delilah has given me a sneak peek into the novella, hitting your favorite e-book store in December. It's sexy but set in New York City, 1800. A hop and a skip from across the pond where her books have been set.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

W...W...W...(19)

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly meme MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here's my answers:

*Click on the covers to read excerpts/learn more.*

• What are you currently reading?

A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp. Another holiday themed book. A baby left in a manger discovered by the vicar's spinster sister and a brooch with the insignia of the new lord in town... So far it's hilarious. The banter is witty, the heroine tells it like it is (hmm, seems like I'm reading books with outspoken heroines these days) and the hero is in denial.

Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden. Grabbed this off of Netgalley and it surprised me. I'm all about the different mythologies of angels, demons, vampires and all things supernatural. This series looks quite promising and can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of the archangels and their soulmates.

• What did you recently finish reading?

Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt. Oh sweet Jaysus! This book was total rollercoaster ride of emotions. I laughed myself silly, cried, gasped, jumped, squeaked and danced. I even heard the Pirates of the Caribbean theme playing during the action scenes. I totally immersed myself in this book. And you can read my review. Oh, river pirates FTW!

Too Wicked To Wed by Cara Elliott. Hello newest favorite heroine! Outspoken, dressing like a man, winning half the ownership of a gaming hell, getting shot at in the dark, kissing the most notorious rake in London. Isn't there anything this woman can't do? Read my review.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Sweet Magik by Penny Watson. I'm getting into the holiday spirit a little early. I haven't read the first book in the series but let me tell you, the blurb and of course the cover caught my attention. And it doesn't hurt that it's about the Klaus brothers. Yes, Santa's sons.

And anything else I've got for review. 





PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Teaser Tuesday (20)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser(click on cover to read an excerpt):

"Thea recalled the reports of his scandalous behavior; the way she had seen him riding home early this morning from what had obviously been a bed other than his own; his sinfully handsome features and devilish smile. He was the kind of man who kissed so many girls at dances that he could not even remember them a few years later!"
~page 62, A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Thea is a vicar’s daughter, dutiful to a fault—even if sometimes she tires of caring for everyone around her. One snowy day in December, Thea goes to church to check on the nativity scene—and finds a crying baby nestled in the manger! The babe has no identification other than a signet ring belonging to Gabriel, the local lord. Before Thea can think twice, she snatches up the child and marches off to give the earl a piece of her mind.

Gabriel at first thinks the windblown, furious woman who appears in his hall is accusing him of fathering her child—but it soon becomes clear that the baby is not his. Then how did the child come to have Gabriel’s ring wrapped in its swaddling? Gabriel, a bachelor, has no notion of how to care for an infant and begs Thea for her continued help. As the two work together to search for his rightful parents, they are powerfully drawn to one another. Gabriel can’t help but admire Thea’s fresh, striking beauty and her tender heart, while Thea daydreams about more than a friendship with the bold but honorable lord. But someone is determined to keep them from finding the truth about this wayward baby—even if it means silencing one or both of them for good.


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesday post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!