Not Quite a Scandal by Bliss Bennet

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Book Description (Amazon.ca)

Outspoken Quaker Bathsheba Honeychurch knows how difficult it is for an unmarried woman to successfully champion political change. Her solution? Wed best friend Ash Griffin as soon as he comes of age and begin remaking the world. But when Ash’s urbane, aloof cousin arrives with inconceivable news, Sheba’s future dreams are suddenly at risk…

The death of the Earl of Silliman reveals an appalling lie: it is not Noel Griffin, but his long-lost cousin Ash, who is the true heir to their grandfather’s title. Raised to place family above all, Noel accepts his grandmother’s bitter charge: find Ash, disentangle him from his religious community, and train him to take on the responsibilities and privileges of a title that Noel had been raised to believe was his. Noel certainly won’t allow a presumptuous, irritating Quakeress to thwart him in doing his duty—no matter how fascinating he finds her…

When scandal threatens both their reputations, can Sheba and Noel look beyond past dreams and imagine a new world—together?

My Thoughts

Not Quite a Scandal is book 2 of the Audacious ladies of Audley series. It is about an outspoken woman who wholeheartedly believes in a cause and who is very outspoken. This of course is during an era where woman didn’t have a voice. Sheba will stop at nothing for what she believes in not taking into account other peoples view. She has a goal and will do what it takes even if it means marrying her own cousin.

When Sheba takes a trip to London and place that has completely different views, Sheba learns several life lessons including an unexpected feeling which she can’t quite understand.

Not having read the first book, I can say it does well as a standalone. The storyline is pretty true to the era with a few twists which creates a very entertaining read. The character development was well done. It doesn’t leave the reader wondering and questioning the characters; even the secondary ones. The only slight disappointment for me and maybe for others, is of course the ending which readers could potentially predict. Having said that, it truly did enjoy reading it and found myself laughing at the shenanigans Sheba would find herself in.

Review by: KellyR

Rating: 4